article_detail

 

Notorious Irish crime lord Gerry ‘The Monk’ Hutch has been denied bail by a Spanish court, as he faces charges of money laundering as part of a massive international investigation.

 

The 61-year-old was one of nine people to appear in court in Arrecife, Lanzarote, accused of being part of a gang of international criminals who have been evading authorities for years.

 

Hutch, who has been linked to several high-profile crimes, including the murder of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel in 2016, was remanded in custody along with another suspect, believed to be a fellow gang leader.

 

His latest foray with the Spanish police comes after a very public arrest at a Fuengirola pizzeria in August 2021.

 

The investigation, which has been ongoing for more than two years, has been a joint effort between the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigations (GNBCI) and the Guardia Civil in Spain. Authorities have been tracking the Hutch Organised Crime Group's movements, following a trail of large sums of money and properties purchased in Spain.

 

 

Hutch's arrest on Wednesday October 23 was the culmination of a dramatic dawn raid, which saw 50 officers from Tenerife and Aragon descend on several locations in Arrecife, Puerto del Carmen and Playa Blanca. Three vehicles were seized outside the luxurious Arrecife Gran Hotel & Spa, where Hutch was believed to be staying.

 

Despite Hutch's confidence that he would be released on bail, the investigating magistrate ordered his immediate incarceration.

 

However, sources close to Hutch claim that he is working on a bail agreement with Spanish authorities and is optimistic that he will be released from custody before the week is out. The court has ordered the provisional release of the other seven suspects on bail, under strict conditions.

 

Hutch's arrest is the latest chapter in a long and complex saga that has spanned several countries. His alleged involvement in the murder of David Byrne, a key figure in the Kinahan cartel, has been well-documented, and his acquittal in April last year was seen as a major setback for authorities.

 

But even if ‘The Monk’ makes bail this week, the authorities in both Ireland and Spain have assured that the investigation is far from over.

 

 

Images: Guardia Civil