Jonathan Dowdall will be allowed to testify against Gerry Hutch at his murder trial.
The former Sinn Féin councillor was also due to stand trial for the murder of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel in Dublin but the charge against him was dropped.
The defence claimed that was done in exchange for him giving evidence against Mr Hutch.
The prosecution denied that was the case and the judges have refused the defence application, paving the way for Mr Dowdall to give his evidence.
The non-jury court has already been told that Jonathan Dowdall has made a statement to gardai, claiming Gerry Hutch confessed direct involvement in the murder of David Byrne, who was shot dead at the Regency Hotel in 2016.
Mr Hutch’s barrister had called Dowdall’s intentions into question, accusing him of turning state witness in order to have his murder charge dropped.
He claims his proposed evidence is ‘not a sincere and honest effort’ by someone coming forward with information.
The other side strongly denies a link between Dowdall’s charge being dropped and his decision to make a statement against Mr Hutch.
They say everything is above board and to accuse them of wrongdoing isn’t fair and isn’t right.
