The Garda Commissioner has insisted that the Hutch gang remain under investigation and warned: "My gang is bigger than their gang."
Drew Harris was speaking this morning following last week's acquittal of Gerry "The Monk" Hutch of the murder of Kinahan lieutenant David Byrne at the Regency Hotel over seven years ago. The top cop is to meet with the Director of Public Prosecutions to discuss the case, but he would not be drawn on why further charges were not brought against Hutch.
The Special Criminal Court established that while The Monk could have potentially organised the Regency attack, evidence could suggest the opposite also. Ms Justice Tara Burns also told how state witness and former Sinn Fein councillor Jonathan Dowdall was unreliable and a liar.
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Speaking to the media ahead of addressing the Garda Representative Association in Westport, Mayo, Harris would not be drawn on why Hutch did not face extra charges other than murder. But he did admit it was a "set back."
He said: "At the same time we are on a long route march here in terms of these crime groups and bringing these individuals to justice for serious charges. Yes there will be setbacks but the prize is that we actually break down these organised crime groups - we are determined to do that.
"The prize is that we are making Ireland a hard place for organised crime groups to work. That is what I am determined to do and if I might say these gangs have some notoriety, but my gang is bigger than their gang and we'll keep working away at this."
He added: "The Director of Public Prosecutions is an independent office, a very professional office in the manner they conduct their duties.
"And I have to meet with the Director in respect of this matter. At the same time I want to assure people that the Hutch Organised Crime Group remains under investigation, very active investigation.
"We are still working with the international partners in respect of that criminal grouping. So our work has not finished. This is an organised crime group. They’re involved in extensive criminality. There are other offences to investigate."
He said that acquittals are part of the criminal justice forum, saying evidence is tested to the extreme.
Harris said: “We’re determined to make Ireland a hard place for organised crime groups to work and to operate, to make this in effect Ireland a hard target and we continue with that goal in mind."
On Monday, gardai confirmed they launched an investigation into a GSOC officer who is alleged to have attended a party with The Monk.
It is claimed that their officer, who has now retired, attended a "welcome home" party for Hutch following his acquittal of the Regency Hotel murder of David Byrne.
The officer was facing an internal investigation into the claims but resigned during the week - meaning he did not have to engage with the probe.
Harris said the probe is to establish the facts of the case and examine the potential for criminality.
He would not speculate if the now former officer had ties with the Hutch gang but he described it as "a matter of very serious and grave concern."
He said: "Obviously information within GSOC is protected in the same way it is protected within An Garda Siochana by criminal law as well, so there are potential offences, but we’re examining whether offences occur in the first place."
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