Gerry “The Monk” Hutch made a dramatic spectacle in a prison yard - in an apparent effort to stop drugs from coming in.
The 59-year-old took a stand at Dublin’s Wheatfield Prison by making a stunning statement in front of several fellow inmates. It is understood Hutch, who rarely leaves his cell, was flanked by several people who were affiliated with him when he went into the prison yard and gave a warning.
A source said: “It was very dramatic. He came down to the yard with other prisoners who would be loyal to him and warned several people not to get involved in bringing drugs in. Gerry Hutch is something of a celebrity to these prisoners and they took him very seriously.”
Read more: Hutch trial hears he was observed meeting man later caught with AK-47s
Sources said there was a noticeable drop in incidents of narcotics being discovered following this incident – but prison bosses remain on alert and are constantly deploying tactics to prevent contraband from coming in. They added prison staff are being realistic about the situation, and do not expect the words of any one prisoner to necessarily stop gangs from trying to bring contraband in.
The unprecedented intervention occurred while Hutch has been on remand in Wheatfield Prison and was awaiting trial for the murder of David Byrne in Dublin’s Regency Hotel. It is understood he is housed on a wing that sources describe as being “half empty” – and he mostly keeps to himself.
His arrival into the yard, where he is free to mix with other prisoners, was a rare event, sources say.
It comes as he is set to appear again before the Special Criminal Court today – for the ninth day of his high-profile trial. Hutch is driven from the prison into the Criminal Courts of Justice in Dublin via armed-guard for every day of his trial – set to last at least 12 weeks.
He remains a top target of the Kinahan cartel – with the court being watched at all times by armed gardai. Members of the Garda Public Order Unit and the Armed Response Unit are also deployed around the building – while members of the public are allowed to attend the trial.
So far the trial has been shown numerous clips taken from hours of CCTV footage obtained by investigating gardai. It has also heard evidence from members of the Garda National Surveillance Unit about the alleged movements of the accused and former Sinn Fein councillor Jonathan Dowdall in the days following the Regency Hotel attack.
Read more: Gerry Hutch trial hears brother Patsy 'was under garda surveillance when AK-47s found'
Hutch has plead not guilty to the murder of David Byrne – a key lieutenant within the Kinahan cartel. Byrne, who was 34, was shot dead in the reception area of the Regency after a six man gang stormed the hotel during a boxing-weigh-in event.
The team – three of whom were disguised as gardai and armed with Kalashnikov rifles, terrorised the event, which was attended by over 200 people, as they searched for their target – mob boss Daniel Kinahan.
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