Gardai have taken Gerry Hutch out of prison to question him about organised crime offences, it emerged last night.
The Irish Mirror has confirmed “The Monk”, 58, was arrested yesterday and taken from his cell at Wheatfield Prison in West Dublin. A Garda spokeswoman said: “A male in his 50s has today been arrested on foot of a warrant issued under section 42 Criminal Justice Act 1999.
“He is currently detained under Section 4 Criminal Justice Act 1984 at a Garda Station in the Dublin Region on suspicion of Organised Crime related offences. An Garda Siochana has no further comment.”
Read more: 'Key member' of Kinahan cartel arrested in Spain after being named by US authorities
The Irish Mirror has established Hutch is being held on suspicion of directing a crime gang – an offence that carries up to life in prison. Sources have also confirmed that the arrest of “The Monk” – who is due to stand trial on Monday for the February 2016 murder of Daniel Kinahan associate David Byrne at the Regency Airport Hotel – is connected to a long-running probe into allegations that criminals were passed intelligence by a retired garda.
That former officer is currently before the courts and cannot be named, but there has been an 18-month long investigation to the claims – that culminated in Hutch being arrested at 6am yesterday. Gardai had to get a special order – called a section 42 warrant – to arrest him. Hutch was then taken to a Dublin Garda station, where he was still being questioned last night.
It’s likely he will be released without charge and then returned to prison as officers continue their investigation. Gardai confirmed last night that a man had been arrested as part of a probe into organised crime. Although the force did not name him the Irish Mirror has established the arrested man is Gerry Hutch, with a last known address at The Paddocks Clontarf, North Dublin.
The probe has also seen five properties searched – and a major drugs haul made. Two serving gardai also had their home searched and mobile phones seized. Neither has been charged.
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