THERE was wild celebrations in Dublin’s north city as Gerry Hutch walked free – but it sparked concerns for cops in Spain and The Netherlands where The Monk could flee.
Champagne was popping as a pal of James ‘Mago’ Gately – named in court as one of the Regency shooters – vowed to “go on the drink” after Hutch was cleared of the murder of David Byrne, while it was hailed as “brilliant news” by other delirious locals and gang associates.
It was one of a large number of posts made on social media to celebrate Hutch’s acquittal at the Special Criminal Criminal Court in Dublin.
Gately’s associate also posted an emoji of champagne glasses after the verdict.
Shortly after the verdict was given to the packed court, a white limo also drove by the court with the driver beeping their support of Hutch.
A stony-faced Hutch left in a taxi soon after and was taken to an unknown location.
And one local told us how some in the north inner city – which bore the brunt of the Kinahan cartel’s onslaught between 2016 and 2018 – were delighted with the verdict.
They said: “Some people are just buzzing at the news.
“There will be a lot of parties in the north inner city tonight and a few sore heads tomorrow.
“Gerry Hutch is well thought of in this community while the Kinahan cartel are detested.
“It was great to see him walk out the front door and everyone was laughing at that.”
Following the verdict at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin, Hutch left in a taxi and was taken to an unknown location.
Sources last week indicated that Hutch had vowed to go for a Chinese meal with his close friends and family in the event of his release.
Former Lord Mayor Niall Ring told how the people of the north inner city now just want to “get on with their lives”.
The Independent councillor said: “It wasn’t pleasant listening to the details of that trial because of what happened on the streets of the north inner city after that.
“So much has changed since then and people just want to live in peace.
“Now that this verdict has been made by the Special Criminal Court, we just hope that there is no further bloodshed on our streets and this feud is consigned to history.”
Gardai will tonight swamp the north inner city close to the home of Patsy Hutch in Champions Avenue.
At present, Gerry Hutch has his own passport and is free to travel across Europe.
Gardai are also expected to draw up a policing plan if he continues to live in Ireland.
The infamous crime figure also had access to properties in Holland before he was arrested in Spain.
And detectives in Holland have told of their fears Hutch, 60, could return to the country after he was cleared over the murder of Kinahan cartel lieutenant David Byrne at the Regency Hotel on February 5, 2016.
In an interview with the Irish Sun, one organised crime investigator in Amsterdam told how officers had received intelligence Hutch had visited the capital in the weeks after Byrne’s killing.
They told us: “It was previously suggested that he was in Amsterdam and our question was – if he’s here, who’s coming to take him out?
“We are dealing with our own feuds but we have been kept informed of the situation in Ireland because it could come here.
“The Kinahan Organised Crime Group have connections in Holland and it’s entirely plausible they could dispatch contract killers to Holland if Mr Hutch decides to come to this country.
“There may be a possibility the activities of this feud could lead to an assassination in Amsterdam and we will continue to work with our international partners and the Gardai in terms of investigations into these criminal groupings.
“We will be continuing our ongoing relationship with the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau.”
And another Dutch police spokesman Rob Van Der Veen, warned Holland would not be a safe haven for Irish criminals, adding: “Amsterdam will not be a safe location for criminals from Ireland who come here to engage in criminal activity.”
Although he has connections to Holland, we also outline the other options at his disposal.
Before his nephew Gary declared war on the Kinahan cartel with an attempt on the life of Daniel Kinahan in August 2014, Hutch had been spending most of his time in Lanzarote.
At that time, he was considered as one of Christy ‘Dapper Don’ Kinahan and John ‘The Colonel’ Cunningham’s closest associates and was regarded as someone who could be trusted.
And during his frequent trips to Lanzarote, he also spent time with James ‘Jaws’ and Sadie Byrne – the parents of the man he would later be cleared of killing.
The Byrne family – understood to be furious with the verdict – made no comment as they left court.
Although he preferred Lanzarote, he also had connections to the Costa del Sol and had stayed in different towns over the years.
Our exclusive image also shows him enjoying a beer at a time when the cartel were trying to kill him.
He abandoned the Canary island when cartel killers Eamon Cumberton and Christopher Slator were sent there in December 2015 to kill him.
At the time of his arrest on a European Arrest Warrant, he had been living in a safe house in Fuengirola.
Due to the €1m bounty placed on his head by the Kinahan cartel, gardai don’t believe he will return to the popular tourist resort.
But the belief is that he could return to another destination in Spain because of his access to properties in the region and his long association with the country.
One investigator said: “Gerry Hutch is very meticulous in everything that he does and he will have had a plan in place.
“But most of the Kinahan hit teams have now been taken out by the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau.
“The concern is that there could be one person who might try and make a name for themselves.
“The reality also is that Gerry Hutch will be looking over his shoulder for the rest of his life due to his family’s connection to the Regency.”
The investigator also said: “Law enforcement agencies overseas will also be keeping a close eye on developments because they won’t want people being targeted in their towns and cities.
“He knows the pressure is on the Kinahan organisation from the US Government and it’s only when that group is dismantled will he feel truly safe.”
But if Hutch doesn’t go to Spain, he also has connections to the north, Liverpool and Birmingham in the UK.
He’s unlikely to travel to the UK because the Kinahan cartel still have associates operating in those cities despite recent crackdowns by the National Crime Agency.
And gardai don’t believe he will remain in Ireland over concerns for his safety and also because of his notoriety.
Investigators also believe he has a limited number of associates he can turn to due to the threat posed by the Kinahan group.
Another possibility for Hutch is Portugal due to his previous connection to an Irish property in the region before the feud.
One source said: “Gerry Hutch has a lot of properties across Europe and he still has connections to people in European countries who are willing to help him.”
Meanwhile, Sinn Féin Leader Mary Lou McDonald TD – who was mentioned frequently during the long-running trial – welcomed today’s verdicts.
The Dublin TD has been criticised over her relationship to Jonathan Dowdall, a former councillor for Sinn Fein, who gave her a €1000 political donation in 2011.
Commenting on the convictions of Jason Bonney and Paul Murphy, the Sinn Fein leader said: “I commend the Gardaí and the Courts for their work, and I know that the Gardaí will not cease in their efforts until those responsible for the murder are brought to justice.”
Secret police recordings heard in the trial heard Dowdall criticising Ms McDonald for not attending the funeral of the brother of murder accused Gerry ‘The Monk’ Hutch.
Dowdall – who was jailed for four years for his role in the Regency attack – quit the part in 2014 and resigned as a councillor a year later, a month after he and his father carried out a waterboarding on a man they believed was trying to defraud them.
She said: “In relation to false and deeply offensive comments made about me during the course of this trial, I want to set out the facts.
“I have never met Gerard Hutch. I have never received money or electoral support from Gerard Hutch.
“The record shows, that I have stood resolutely on the side of the community in the fight against criminal gangs, drug dealers and anti-social elements, and I will continue to do so.
“Jonathan Dowdall should never have been a member of Sinn Féin. Had I known what he would become involved in he would not have been a party member for one minute, never mind running for public office – I would not tolerate that.”
