The US boxing manager suing mob boss Daniel Kinahan for $20m wants to give part of any award which may be made to innocent feud victims' families, we can reveal.
American businessman Moses Heredia, who The Star recently revealed is seeking between $10m and $20m in damages against the Irish mobster and MTK Global, has now given his “commitment” to give some of that eye-watering figure away to Irish families whose loved ones were murdered by the Kinahan cartel - should he win his case.
“Their (The Heredia family) focus is on families who have paid the ultimate sacrifice in Europe and they totally understand the travesty and harm that’s been left in this organisation's wake - so that’s a pretty firm commitment obviously subject to outcome of the case,” Mr Heredia’s lawyer Eric Montalvo exclusively told The Star.
Read More: Lawyer leading case against Daniel Kinahan wants €19m payout in light of US sanctions
“I think if we get a significant recovery that there will definitely be discussions and there has already been some, about where to assign some of those funds - and what better than to give it back to the community that was harmed the most.”
It is understood that the Heredias are interested in making contact with innocent families whose loved ones were murdered as part of the Kinahan Hutch feud - that saw 18 people brutally killed.
And it is understood that their hope is to be able to give some of any award made in the case or obtained through a potential settlement, potentially $20million, back to those grieving families.
Speaking to The Star last night, one affected family member, who asked not to be identified, said such charity would dramatically help their loved ones - who have gone through the worst trauma imaginable.
“That is incredible that he would offer that, and obviously we would be very interested and grateful to be considered,” the family member said.
“In particular the children have really suffered. Their lives will never be the same again. But maybe something like this will give them what they need to live better lives.”
The feud saw many innocent people killed - such as Dublin City Council worker Trevor O’Neill, 40, who was gunned down in front of his family in Majorca in August 2016 - or homeless man Martin O’Rourke, 24, who was shot dead on Dublin’s Sheriff Street in April of that year.
In those cases both men were wrongly targeted by a Kinahan-hired hitman who killed them in horrific cases of mistaken identity.
Others such as Noel ‘Duck Egg’ Kirwan and barman Michael Barr were murdered simply because the Kinahans felt they were associated with the Hutch gang in some way.
And speaking to The Star last night, Mr Montalvo, who is pursuing the civil case against Kinahan as well as RICO charges, said he wants to start the ball rolling and get in contact with some of these affected families.
“If it would be worthwhile to start having the conversation with those most affected persons, I would say absolutely,” he said.
And he added that even if his client does not recuperate the damages he is seeking, they are still interested in making contact with those affected by the Kinahan cartel’s murderous campaign.
“Even if they don’t get the recovery, this is still a subject of interest for them,” he said.
He said his client was more than aware of the harm and the havoc that was unleashed by the Kinahan cartel in Ireland over the last number of years - and he’s keen to help.
“I would say, depending upon the recovery, they are obviously aware of the tragedies that have occurred over there.
“It’s obviously a difficult situation because it’s not their responsibility to mitigate the harm that this horrible person (Kinahan) has created in Europe, but knowing the Heredias, and this has come up in conversation - helping those over there is certainly something they are interested in.”
Apart from giving any award made to the families, Mr Montalvo says his client also wishes to give money back to the boxing industry in the US - and to help fighters most in need.
“They also want to focus on fighters here in the US that need some help and structure dealing with a range of issues from traumatic brain injury to financial management issues to other sort of life challenges.
“But first and foremost if they’re blessed to receive (the funds) they’re certainly going to give, and I believe it will be significant.”
Mr Montalvo says Mr Heredia hopes to establish some kind of fund to help boxers - and to keep them away from harmful things such as drug abuse.
“We’ve been in discussions of establishing either a non-profit or a scholarship for fighters to help them, especially with substance abuse and other things.
“Things to help them through life and avoid making what could be bad business or life decisions,” he added.
Earlier this week Mr Montalvo told The Star that his client was seeking far more in damages after the US Government sanctioned the Kinahan cartel - and the UAE government froze their assets.
“Obviously things have changed so we’re going to be looking for a significant amount more of money.
“I think we’re in the north of $10 million to $20 million range of consequence here given all the harm we’ve uncovered over the course of the past year, '' he said.
The Kinahan-Hutch feud began after the cartel ordered the murder of Daniel’s former pal Gary Hutch, 33, in Milaflores, Spain in 2015.
The mobster is understood to have feared that Hutch, nephew of former crime boss Gerry “the Monk” Hutch, 54, wanted to set up his own drugs business - and wipe out the Kinahan cartel.
That led to tensions between the pair and Hutch tried to have Kinahan murdered in August 2013 - but the hitman got innocent boxer Jamie Moore instead.
As part of a deal, the hitman agreed to be shot by a Kinahan enforcer and the Hutch mob paid more than €100,000 in compensation to end the feud with Kinahan.
But Kinahan welched on the deal and had Gary Hutch murdered in September 2015 near Estepona.
In November of that year, the Hutch gang tried to kill Kinahan in revenge when he was at a boxing event in west Dublin - but he survived.
They tried again in February 2016 when they attacked another boxing event at the Regency Airport Hotel in north Dublin, but once more failed to kill him.
They did, however, murder key sidekick David Byrne, 33 - a killing that led to a ferocious wave of retaliation by the Kinahans.
As many as 18 men have now lost their lives in the feud - but the war resulted in a massive Garda crackdown on the Kinahans.
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