A 24-year-old man has been charged with the murder of David Byrne who was blasted by gunmen during an attack at a boxing weigh-in at the Regency Hotel in Dublin, writes Tom Tuite.

David Byrne (34) was shot dead during a boxing weigh-in at the popular hotel in Drumcondra in north Dublin on February 5 by a gang of heavily armed raiders.

Two men in their 50s and 30s were detained at Swords and Clontarf Garda stations on Tuesday night. Another man in his 20s was arrested on Friday and detained by Gardaí and another man, in his 50s was detained on Wednesday.

Dressed in grey tracksuit bottoms and a blue sweatshirt, Patrick Hutch (24) of Champions Avenue, Dublin 1, was brought to appear before Judge Hugh O’Donnell at a late sitting of Dublin District Court last night.

Detective Sergeant Michael Mulligan told Judge O’Donnell that at 5.41pm on Wednesday, Mr Hutch was arrested and at 6.28pm he was charged with murder of David Byrne.

The court heard Mr Hutch, who was represented by solicitor John Feaheny, “made no reply to the charge”. The judge said the DPP has directed trial on indictment.

Due to the nature of the charge the district court cannot grant bail meaning Mr Hutch will have to bring an application to the High Court to get released pending trial.

Judge O’Donnell remanded Mr Hutch in custody to appear at Cloverhill District Court on May 25 next when the case will be listed for mention. Mr Feaheny said there was an application for free legal aid for to his client. It was granted after the court noted there was no Garda objection to the request.

The defence solicitor said he wanted to prepare a bail application and he would notify the prosecution.

Mr Hutch, who had long fair hair and a beard, remained silent for the duration of the brief hearing and has not yet indicted how he will plead. A book of evidence has yet to be prepared.

Gardai in bulletproof vests were present for the hearing at the Criminal Courts of Justice last night.

David Byrne was blasted when gunmen arrived at the Regency Hotel dressed as a Garda SWAT team. Daniel Kinahan, who runs the MGM boxing promotion, was also at the weigh-in but avoided injury.

It followed the murder of Dublin criminal Gary Hutch who was shot dead in Spain last year and has sparked a wave of killings: Eddie Hutch (58), Noel “Kingsize” Duggan and dissident Michael Barr.

Homeless man Martin O’Rourke was also was shot dead in Dublin city-centre last month in what is believed to have been a case of mistaken identity.