Murder of Gareth Hutch
53°21′12″N 6°15′27″W / 53.35337°N 6.25747°W Gareth Hutch was shot dead in Dublin on Tuesday 24 May 2016.[1] He was a nephew of Gerry Hutch.[1][2] He was also a cousin of Gary Hutch and a nephew of Eddie Hutch Snr.[3]
Shortly before he was shot, Gareth Hutch was issued with a Garda Information Message that there was a threat to his life.[2]
Before Shooting
[edit]Gareth Hutch had previously been charged with attempted armed robbery of a van carrying cash in Lucan, but was found not guilty.[2][4]
His flat in Avondale House had previously been searched by the Gardaí investigating the shooting of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel.[2]
He had been issued with a Garda Information Message telling him his life was in danger.[2] Local councillor Noel Ring said he had spoken to Mr. Hutch about moving to a more secure flat.[5] Mr. Hutch was concerned not only for his own safety but also for his sons'.[5] He said that he did not want to be shot in front of his son.[5]
Shooting
[edit]He was shot as he stood next to his car outside the Avondale House Flats on North Cumberland Street on the morning of 24 May 2016.[2] The two gunmen had trouble starting their getaway car, then fled on foot before getting into another vehicle nearby.[2] Three to six shots were reported to have been fired.[2] Two handguns were retrieved from the scene.[5]
Aftermath
[edit]Arrests
[edit]A man was arrested over the murder the same day as the shooting.[3] The Irish Times reported that the man denied involvement with the murder, but approached Gardaí because he feared that he would be suspected of involvement after Gardaí searched his home.[6]
Two women suspected of helping the attackers, one a relative of the suspect who fired the fatal shot, were arrested for questioning.[7]
CCTV footage circulating on social media
[edit]A video clip of CCTV footage was circulating on social media less than twelve hours after the murder.[6] A Garda inquiry is investigating the video clip and trying to discover if a Garda was responsible for it.[6]
Trial
[edit]A trial of three defendants before the Special Criminal Court began on 5 June 2018.[8][9] The defendants pleaded not guilty.[8][9]
In November 2018 the court found Johnathan Keogh, his sister Regina Keogh and Thomas Fox guilty of the murder.[10][11] All three were sentenced to life imprisonment by presiding judge Tony Hunt.[10][11] Johnathan Keogh was found to have fired the shots.[10][11] Gardai were present around the court and the Garda Public Order Unit was present in the court but there were no incidents.[10][11]
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Dublin gangland feud claims seventh victim". The Guardian. 24 May 2016. Retrieved 26 May 2016.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Shooting victim named locally as The Monk's nephew Gareth Hutch". Irish Independent. 24 May 2016. Retrieved 26 May 2016.
- ^ a b "Man arrested over murder of Gareth Hutch". The Irish Times. 24 May 2016. Retrieved 26 May 2016.
- ^ "Four men in court over Lucan armed raid". RTÉ News. 10 May 2010. Retrieved 26 May 2016.
- ^ a b c d "'These gangland murders are not going to stop until crime cartel get all of their rivals'". Irish Examiner. 25 May 2016. Retrieved 26 May 2016.
- ^ a b c Lally, Conor (26 May 2016). "Man engineered his arrest due to fears after Hutch murder". The Irish Times. Retrieved 26 May 2016.
- ^ "Two women are arrested as gardaí probe Hutch death". Irish Independent. 28 May 2016. Retrieved 28 May 2016.
- ^ a b "Trial over 'brutal and callous' murder of Gareth Hutch opens". RTE News. 5 June 2018. Retrieved 5 June 2018.
- ^ a b "Brother, sister and third man go on trial for 'brutal and callous' murder of Gareth Hutch". TheJournal.ie. 5 June 2018. Retrieved 5 June 2018.
- ^ a b c d O'Brien, Fergal (2 November 2018). "Three given life sentences for murder of Gareth Hutch in 2016". RTE News. Retrieved 5 November 2018.
- ^ a b c d O'Riordan, Alison. "Special Criminal Court convicts three people for murdering 'Monk' nephew Gareth Hutch". thejournal.ie.