Gerry “The Monk” Hutch was back in his cell last night after being quizzed by gardai over allegations of directing a crime gang.
The 58-year-old was dramatically arrested in prison and taken for questioning over the new allegations just days before he is to go on trial for murder. Gardai are now set to put a ring of steel in place for Hutch’s trial at the Special Criminal Court next week when he will face a charge of murder over the Regency Hotel shooting of David Byrne in February 2016.
Sources have confirmed to the Irish Mirror that Hutch was quizzed for more than 12 hours on suspicion of directing a crime gang. He was taken from his cell in West Dublin’s Wheatfield Prison by specialist gardai from the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation on Wednesday morning.
Read more: Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch arrested and taken from prison cell over suspected organised crime offences
He was later released without charge but a file is now being finalised for the Director of Public Prosecutions. A source said last night: “For him to be taken out of prison and have allegations put to him shows that the investigation is almost complete.
“The next stage is for the investigative file to be sent to the DPP. Then it will be up to the DPP to examine the evidence and decide if there is any basis for a prosecution.”
Sources confirmed that the arrest of Hutch 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 into the claims – that culminated in Mr Hutch being arrested at 6am on Wednesday.
Gardai had to get a special order – called a section 42 warrant – to take Mr Hutch from Wheatfield prison and arrest him. He was then taken to a Dublin Garda station, where he was held overnight.
Gardai confirmed last night that a man had been released without charge after being arrested as part of a probe into organised crime. Although they did not name him, sources confirmed it was Gerry Hutch, who has an address at the Paddocks, Clontarf, north Dublin.
A spokeswoman said: “Gardaí have released the man (50s) without charge yesterday evening, Wednesday 28th September, 2022 from the provisions of Section 4 Criminal Justice Act, 1984 and confirm a file will be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.
“Investigations ongoing from Gardaí attached to Garda National Bureau Criminal Investigation (GNBCI)." Such an examination usually takes several months and Hutch’s trial for the February 2016 murder of Daniel Kinahan associate David Byrne (34) at the Regency Airport Hotel – which starts on Monday and is likely to last 12 weeks – will probably be over by the time the DPP decides.
Mr Hutch was back in Wheatfield last night following his questioning in a west Dublin Garda station.
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