Gerry “The Monk” Hutch attendance at his murder trial will require a security operation which could cost the taxpayer €500,000.
The 59-year-old is set to appear at the Special Criminal Court on Monday charged with the murder of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel on February 5, 2016. Proceedings were adjourned last week for his defence team to consider “additional evidence” with former Sinn Fein councillor Johnathan Dowdall turning state witness.
Co-accused Jason Bonney, 50, of Drumnigh Wood, Portmarnock, and Paul Murphy, 59, of Cherry Avenue, Swords, both Dublin, are charged with supplying logistical support to a six-man team suspected of the gun attack during a boxing weigh-in. A source revealed Hutch told his legal team he wants to be in court every day in person rather than via video link from prison even though the trial is expected to last three months.
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The source said: “Bringing him to court every day could be a logistical nightmare. The amount of security needed will be astronomical and could end up becoming very costly.
“No chances can be taken when it comes to getting him from the prison to the courts. Armed officers, garda outriders, garda vans and other measures don’t come cheap and to put such security in place costs somewhere in the region of €10,000 a day.
“With the hearing listed for 12 weeks, and most likely to run over that, the bill at the end will be rather substantial.” The trial before the non-jury court over the killing of the Kinahan cartel enforcer is one of the most high profile so far this century.
Hutch – who was blind sided by Jonathan Dowdall’s decision to testify – has reportedly told associates in Wheatfield prison that he will “not be going quietly”. A source said The Monk went “ape s**t” when he learned of the move.
The source said: “He went crazy after hearing that Dowdall was going to be a witness. Initially he thought it was a joke.
“He said he wasn’t going down without a fight and would not be going quietly.” The trial is expected to last at least 12 weeks and depending on the number of witnesses called could end up going on into the New Year.
Hutch is now said to have become withdrawn from other prisoners on the wing and no longer trusts anybody. The source added: “He trusted Dowdall and his father and was pally with them both before he learned that Johnathan was turning state witness.
“He doesn’t trust anyone on his wing now and is keeping to himself. He used to go to the gym and hasn’t even been doing that since the news broke.”
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