DETECTIVES believe Gerry The Monk Hutch is moving between four countries as gardai yesterday launched a Europe-wide manhunt after an arrest warrant was issued for the Regency Hotel murder of Kinahan gangster David Byrne.
The Irish Sun can reveal ­gardai believe the veteran ­criminal has been staying at different locations in the UK, Spain, Portugal and Turkey.
Gerry ‘The Monk’ HutchCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
Gardai at the scene of the Regency attack five years agoCredit: AFP – Getty
Mob boss Daniel Kinahan
Investigators suspect Hutch, 58, has a new identity as he continues to evade capture.
But his travels could soon be brought to an end after a European Warrant was issued for his immediate arrest.
The application for the warrant to charge one of Irelands most ­infamous criminals with Byrnes murder was made at the Special Criminal Court.
It was later endorsed by the High Court before the warrant was sent to the I247 database at Interpol, Europol and all police agencies across Europes 27 member states.
An alert has also been placed on the Europe-wide SIS 2 Schengen Information System, which alerts police forces that Hutch is a wanted man.An Interpol red notice will also be added to Hutchs name and if he attempts to travel he could be arrested.
WARRANT
The warrant states that Hutch is to be arrested for murder contrary to common law of David Byrne.
If arrested in another European country, gardai will seek his extradition to stand trial at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin.
The warrant was issued after the Director of Public Prosecutions ruled there was enough evidence to charge him over the most brazen attack in Irish gangland history.
The huge probe is being run by investigators from Ballymun Garda station.
Its understood the evidence against Hutch includes secret recordings from a listening device placed in a vehicle used by the gangster just days after Byrnes murder.
The listening devices picked up Hutch and another man, whos serving a prison sentence for making threats to kill and false imprisonment, talking about the AK-47 weapons used to kill Byrne as they travelled to the North.
The garda investigation into the Hutch gang members who dressed as Emergency Response Unit officers when they stormed the north Dublin hotel and the gangs getaway drivers is also ­ongoing.
A source said: The investigation into Gerry Hutchs alleged role in the Regency is now complete and the DPP has now ruled there is enough evidence to bring charges.
‘SUPPORT’
We also spoke to two representatives from the Dutch police who vowed to assist gardai in their hunt.
One senior Dutch investigator told us: It was previously posted online that Gerry Hutch was in Holland and we will assist the gardai in any way we can.
This support can come in the form of arresting people who are wanted in Ireland and we have proven this in the past with people such as Freddie Thompson.
We have great co-operation with the Irish authorities, especially the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau.
Dutch police spokesman Rob Van Der Veen also warned how they would continue to target fugitive Irish criminals. He said: Amsterdam will not be a safe location for (those charged with criminal offences) from Ireland.
If they are wanted by the Irish police authorities we only need a tiny piece of information to locate them and we will. If it is people accused of major crimes then our Swat team will make the arrest.
If you are a fugitive we dont need much to find you.
LAST SIGHT
The last sighting of Hutch in Ireland was in February 2016 at the funeral of his brother Eddie who was shot dead by a cartel hitman on February 8. Since then, he has been constantly on the move.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, gardai have continued to work closely with their European partners.
Hutch did not have the same resources as Daniel Kinahans cartel, but detectives also suspect he had access to cash and support from other criminal networks he has worked with over the years.
One source said: Gerry Hutch is a very shrewd individual and would still have a lot of contacts across Europe. He wouldnt have been able to stay away for so long without having a support network and a strong financial base.
Even if he wasnt being targeted by the gardai, he knows that he could never have returned to Ireland because of the threat against him from the Kinahan cartel.
Gary HutchCredit: Collins
David Byrne was killed during the attack in the Regency Hotel in February 2016
CCTV from inside the Regency Hotel
The feud ignited after The Monks nephew Gary Hutch was shot dead in Spain in September 2015. After the Regency killing of David Byrne, another Monk nephew, Patrick Hutch, went free after his murder trial collapsed in February 2019.
Meanwhile, former top cop believes senior members of the Kinahan cartel will be under serious pressure after the gardais move against The Monk.
Ex-Assistant Commissioner Pat Leahy who had responsibility for policing in the capital during the deadly feud between the mobs said: The State is living up to its commitment that it would relentlessly pursue everyone involved in the Regency and the feud.