Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch was in fighting form as he launched his election campaign from a north inner city boxing club on Sunday.
The gangland figure (62), whose son Jason was recently arrested in Spain on the foot of an extradition warrant, returned from Lanzarote during the week - and formally lodged his papers to run in the upcoming Dublin Central bye-election this month. On Sunday Hutch arrived at a hastily arranged public event in his old stomping ground, Corinthians Boxing Club off Bella Street in Dublin's inner city, inviting locals to meet him for "tea and biscuits" in what he termed a "community open day."
His campaign to run in the bye-election comes after he narrowly missed out on the final seat on offer in the constituency back in the November 2024 general election. Hutch, who was acquitted of the Regency Hotel gangland murder of Kinahan cartel associate David Byrne in April 2023, soft-launched his election campaign at the event - where he encouraged those present to register to vote.
He then posed for ringside photographs, holding his fists up for the camera as he once again made his case to be elected to Dail Eireann - all while facing ongoing criminal investigation. The Irish Mirror has now established that a file still sits with the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) over whether or not to charge Hutch with directing a criminal organisation. The file is still under consideration almost three years on from when gardai recommended a charge against the veteran gangland figure.
It is still being considered despite other charges already levelled in connection with the case - and an extradition warrant having been issued for Hutch's son, Jason, whom Spanish police arrested last month. Jason, 37, was arrested over an extradition request by Irish authorities and his lawyer has said money laundering is mentioned in that paperwork. Spain has also alleged Jason, who has not been charged with any offence here or there, played a key role in the Hutch Organised Crime Group.
Meanwhile it has emerged that Spanish authorities have frozen three properties connected to Gerry Hutch while he remains under investigation there for alleged money laundering. In a recent interview with the Irish Times, Hutch acknowledged that he owns multiple properties - but said he wouldn't disclose his wealth unless he was elected to the Dail.
The Spanish investigation into Hutch alleges that nine people committed "money laundering crimes committed in the scope of a criminal organisation." He was alleged by prosecutors to be the leader of that money laundering operation before being released in November 2024. Laptops, phones and other devices were seized from Hutch's cul de sac home in Clontarf, North Dublin following an early morning raid assisted by armed officers of the Garda Emergency Response Unit at the time.
However Hutch has dismissed the investigation, insisting he is "innocent" and that it has "nothing to do with me." Meanwhile back in Ireland the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) is pursuing Hutch for an alleged €800,000 in unpaid taxes between 2006 and 2010.
Earlier this year at the launch of a play about his life, an agitated Hutch wasn't happy when the Irish Mirror put it to him about the file and about whether or not he's the leader of a crime gang. "I'm no leader of any crime gang. I was never in a crime gang," he eventually said, when pressed. "Ah there's files with the DPP the height of the f*cking Mount Everest. There has been for years. I'm no leader of any crime gang. I was never in a crime gang. The judge said I was the leader of a family and I think I'll leave it at that," he said.
We then pointed out to Hutch that Ms Justice Tara Burns, who ultimately acquitted him of the murder of Kinahan cartel associate David Byrne, did assert in her summary that on the basis of the evidence, he was likely in control of the weapons used in the Regency shooting - after it occurred. "Well the judge can say what she likes. You were there. You heard it all. You heard it in detail," Hutch responded to us.
He then repeated words issued by the Judge, stating that he stepped in after the Regency hit to try and make peace. I got in as a member of the family to try nip it in the bud. As a member of the family. End of," he said.
However in a key ruling against Hutch's bid for legal costs in the Special Criminal Court in June 2023, Ms Justice Tara Burns did go further - asserting that The Monk was "the figurehead" and "the patriarchal figure" of the Hutch organised crime group and he had possession of the guns from the Regency, which he knew had been used to murder Mr Byrne.
The judge also said it was "a reasonable possibility that nothing was carried out by the Hutch organised crime group without his say so." Murder victim David Byrne (33) was shot dead in the foyer of the Regency Hotel by armed gunmen disguised as gardai and carrying AK-47 rifles on the afternoon of Friday, February 5, 2016.
In acquitting Gerry Hutch of the murder in April 2023, Ms Justice Burns, found that the evidence showed he was in possession of those firearms and "had control of them" on March 7 - a month after the shooting - but this was "not the case Gerard Hutch was here to meet."
She stated that the Prosecution's case was plainly that Hutch was one of the shooters and was present in the Regency Hotel during the murder - but there was no evidence to support this claim - and his whereabouts on the day could not even be established.
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