Pals of Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch are urging the public to cheer him up for his 60th birthday next week - by sending cards to him in prison.
The Irish Mirror recently revealed how Hutch will have nothing but a swiss roll to look forward to as he marks his 60th birthday behind bars. Hutch, 59, is set to celebrate the landmark birthday in Wheatfield Prison next Tuesday, but won't won’t get any special privileges - except for a possible extended visit from family.
However, an online campaign has now been set up to send birthday cards into The Monk in prison. The Twitter page, Free The Monk, has posted: "It's the Monk's 60th birthday on Tuesday and could you imagine the smile on his face if he was to get a load of birthday cards from those on here who support him?
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"He would be delighted that people send him a card. So if you have the time, please send him a birthday card with a nice message to help lift his spirits while he's on remand for his 60th birthday.
"It would make a huge difference and he would be extremely grateful to you." Hutch will also mark the occasion just days before he learns his fate - when the verdict in his trial for the murder of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel will be revealed on April 17.
Sources say Hutch, who is on a restricted landing in Dublin’s Wheatfield Prison, can expect to be gifted with a swiss roll from the tuck-shop on the day of his birthday. It is understood that something similar was arranged by the small number of inmates on the landing on his birthday last year.
“He won’t be getting any special treatment. The other prisoners on the unit will probably celebrate his birthday with some biscuits or a swiss roll, which is what they did last year,” a source said.
“But he’s not the kind of prisoner that would even want that. He largely keeps to himself and doesn’t venture out of the cell often.”
Sources say Hutch mostly spends his days writing notes for his legal team, who fought his case for 13 gruelling weeks during the so-called ‘Trial of the Century.’
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