Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch touches down at Dublin Airport - and confirms General Election plans
Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch has returned to Dublin from Spain, claiming innocence regarding money laundering charges and confirming plans to run in the upcoming general election. Hutch, recently released on bail, stated he’s '100 percent' committed to his
Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch has landed in Dublin airport and told the waiting media he’s “innocent” of all charges in Spain. Hutch (61), who was freed on bail from Lanzarote’s Tachiche prison just days ago arrived in Dublin airport just before midday and claimed he is back “without a doubt” to run in the general election.
Hutch told a large pack of waiting media - including the Irish Mirror - that he is innocent in relation to a money laundering probe into him on the Spanish island. “Innocent I’ve nothing to do with it,” he said.
Asked was he back to run in the general election, he said: “Oh without a doubt 100 per cent." Hutch was also asked what his policies are to which he said: “Ah I don’t think it’s the appropriate place here to talk about them.”
Asked also about whether he is a threat to anyone’s seat in the Dublin Central constituency, he said: “I don’t know. Any seat with do me. I’m not pushed.”
READ MORE: Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch enjoys pint after prison release as he mulls election run
READ MORE: General Election 2024: The big changes you need to know since we last went to the polls
We asked Hutch why he decided to run for election to which he responded: “Not the appropriate place good luck.” He also declined to comment on what life has been like since he was acquitted of the murder of David Byrne in Dublins Regency Hotel.
Afterwards, Hutch was seen going into a cafe for a roll and a drink. It comes after Spanish authorities incredibly stated on the record that Hutch was granted bail and did not have to surrender his passport after arguing that he intended to run for election here.
In a stunning development, a spokesman for the Canary Islands High Court of Justice told this paper last week: “In reference to the alleged leader of an international gang of criminals who yesterday was provisionally released on bail of 100,000 euros, the investigating court (Instruction 2 of Arrecife) reports that, apart from the aforementioned bail to ensure his presence at the trial, no other precautionary measure has been imposed.”
The spokesman said this was “since one of the main arguments that both the prosecutor in his favourable report and the investigating magistrate have taken into account when making the decision is that the person under investigation alleged in his appeal that was going to present to an electoral process.”
“In this context, the withdrawal of their passport or other measures limiting their movements would prevent their free access to the elections, causing irreparable damage to their right to passive suffrage, which remains intact (only a final ruling can prevent them from standing in an election).”
The spokesman previously said that Hutch was being investigated “as the alleged perpetrator of a money laundering crime committed within the scope of a criminal organisation.”
The arrest last month was timed with a search of Hutch’s home in Clontarf in Dublin where it is understood that laptops, phones and other devices were seized following an early morning raid assisted by armed officers of the Garda Emergency Response Unit.
The Dublin search was led by the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation, with support from the Criminal Assets Bureau and the Emergency Response Unit.
Last April Hutch was sensationally acquitted in the Special Criminal Court of the gangland murder of Kinahan cartel associate David Byrne at Dublin's Regency Hotel. During Hutch’s trial, a senior Garda detective gave evidence for the first time about the existence of the Hutch crime gang. Detective Superintendent Dave Gallagher, of the Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau, said in his opinion the group is made up of “close family members” and came together and “galvanised” after the Kinahan feud exploded.
He described it as being made up of “intergenerational” family bonds and was based predominantly in Dublin City Centre. The Hutch criminal organisation is made up, he said, of “close family members,” and is “less hierarchical” than some other criminal organisations. It operates on what he called a “patriarchal system” and that it was based off “loyalty” and “monetary gain.”
The Detective Superintendent said that historically the Hutch criminal organisation was “quite a fluid organisation” that had participants, associates and affiliates working together to commit certain crimes. But it often consisted of those individuals operating independently at times, and working with other criminal organisations, he said.
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