A play about Gerry Hutch is likely very difficult for the innocent victims of the Hutch organisation, a former Garda Sergeant has said. 

‘The Monk’ tells the story of Hutch’s trial at the Special Criminal Court in 2023, when he was dramatically acquitted of murder by three judges. 

In February 2016, David Byrne was shot dead in the Regency Hotel as part of the Hutch-Kinahan gangland feud.

Although the court concluded there was not enough evidence to convict Hutch, they agreed he was in control of the guns used in the shooting - even if he was not involved in the murder itself. 

Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch being followed by the media and reporters after being freed following his court case at the Criminal Courts. Picture by: Sasko Lazarov/RollingNews.ie

Hutch walked out of court a free man and returned to Spain. However, he came back to Ireland the following year to stand as an independent in the Dublin Central constituency during the 2024 General Election. 

He narrowly missed out on the final seat, but has since declared his candidacy for the upcoming by-election. 

After a  recent performance of The Monk, Hutch appeared on stage and engaged in a fake interview in which he pretended to have been elected a TD. 

 On The Claire Byrne Show, former Garda Sergeant Christy Galligan said people should not forget Hutch’s criminal past. 

“I was reading the summation when he sought costs in the Special Criminal Court and it was Justice Tara Burns, along with other judges there, where they refused his costs,” he said. 

“They said about Mr Hutch that, while the court rejected the prosecution case that Mr Hutch was one of the shooters in the Regency attack, the court was satisfied he was recognised as a figurehead and patriarchal figure of the Hutch Organised Crime - an organisation which the court was found responsible for and orchestrated the attack.” 

Independent candidate Gerry Hutch speaks to media in the RDS Count Centre in Dublin. Picture by: Leon Farrell/RollingNews.ie.

Mr Galligan continued that innocent people died as a result of the Hutch-Kinahan gangland feud and that people should consider the impact the play might have on them. 

“I find it very, very difficult and I'm sure very difficult for the victims, the innocent victims of the Hutch killing feud to think that somebody has a play written about them,” he said. 

“It's a form of self-promotion to say that he's going to go to Dáil Éireann and then challenge ministers who tell lies. 

“Now that coming from Gerry Hutch is a bit of a gut-wrenching thing to say but I find it very, very difficult.”

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said the Dublin Central by-election will likely be held this spring.

Main image: Gerry Hutch during the General Election campaign. Picture by: Leah Farrell/RollingNews.ie.