Gerry Hutch, the 61-year-old leader of an underworld gang, was not present in Ireland when his Clontarf residence was searched early on a recent Wednesday morning by armed gardaí and Criminal Assets Bureau (Cab) officials. Although Hutch has often managed to stay one step ahead of both his criminal opponents and the gardaí, it was revealed on Wednesday evening that he was apprehended in Spain as a result of a far-reaching police operation.
Despite being suspected of performing the largest money thefts in the nation’s history and his alleged role in the Hutch-Kinahan feud that resulted in approximately 20 deaths, Hutch has largely steered clear of any major convictions. Nevertheless, the recent search serves as a potent reminder that the father of five and his nefarious associates are still on the radar of the law, irrespective of his dramatic 2016 Regency gun attack acquittal in the Special Criminal Court the previous year.
At present, Hutch must be cautious of the Spanish police, particularly the Guardia Civil which focuses on tackling major organised crime nationwide. They are presently probing an alarming amount of international money laundering. During their most recent operation, they searched ten Spanish properties linked to Hutch’s criminal organization. To assist with these operations, gardaí detectives were dispatched to Spain.
Invoking a “Mutual Legal Assistance” request, Spanish officers sought gardaí’s assistance to also search Hutch’s Clontarf home, which he shares with his family when he’s not at his Lanzarote property. Assisted by the Cab and a Guardia Civil officer, officials from the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation scoured the property for any written or digital evidence that could assist in the money laundering probe.
Their operation was supported by the Emergency Response Unit, the elite firearms unit of the Garda, a clear sign that the force still views the threat posed by Hutch’s gang with grave concern.
The recent searches’ timing might prompt a bit of scepticism, considering they follow shortly after Hutch’s associates suggested he might be contemplating making a bid for the Dáil in the next general elections. Despite these speculations, the likelihood of either the Spanish or Irish police executing the raids to sabotage Hutch’s budding political career seems low, particularly as the Guardia Civil enquiry has been in motion for over two years. Last year, another property connected to the gang was scrutinised by investigators in Lanzarote.
Whilst An Garda Síochána had significant involvement, the inquiry primarily comes under Spanish jurisdiction. Therefore, if Hutch and his comrades are to be indicted, it is almost guaranteed that these charges will be filed in Spain. The operation carried out at Hutch’s property doesn’t necessarily mean he is the investigation’s primary subject. Informants have specified that he is merely one piece of a larger puzzle and is not regarded as the Guardia Civil’s primary quarry.
Even so, the Cab maintains an open dossier on Hutch’s financial and property matters. Any clues unearthed in the most recent exploration may contribute crucially to these ongoing investigations.