Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch released from prison on bail in Lanzarote after handing over €100k
by Paul Healy · Irish MirrorGerry ‘The Monk’ Hutch has been released from prison on bail in Lanzarote.
Sources have confirmed to this paper that Hutch (61), who was being held in a prison on the Spanish island where he is accused of money laundering, was released today. Hutch is understood to be on bail and remains under investigation for alleged money launderi
It comes after a spokesman for the Canary Islands High Court of Justice last week confirmed that Hutch, who was being held in Tahiche prison, sought bail - and the decision had been deferred to prosecutors.
"The defence of the Irish citizen who was placed in provisional prison last Friday has filed an appeal against the prison order, requesting its revocation, the release of the accused without charges or alternatively his release on bail,” a spokesman told us.
A spokesman for the Canary Islands High Court of Justice have confirmed to us the release - and stated that Hutch has been released on bail after handing over €100,000.
“The Irish citizen in preventive detention in Lanzarote since last October 25 as the alleged leader of an international gang of criminals has been provisionally released on bail of 100,000 euros on the morning of this Monday, November 4, after estimating the judicial authority (Instruction two of Arrecife) his appeal for reform against the prison order,” they said.
“The investigating magistrate made this decision after receiving the report from the Public Prosecutor's Office favorable to the appeal. The Irish citizen is being investigated as the alleged perpetrator of a money laundering crime committed within the scope of a criminal organization.”
READ MORE: Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch offers money and passport in bid for bail from Lanzarote prison
“The judicial authority has not yet resolved the appeal. The Court has forwarded the decision to the Public Prosecutor's Office to report in favour or against such a measure. “The magistrate's decision, when it occurs, will be subject to appeal before the Provincial Court of Las Palmas. “This is the usual procedure followed in Spain in 99% of cases in which a judge orders provisional imprisonment.”
The spokesman also stated that Hutch has not, nor can he, seek any agreement with Spanish authorities. “In no case, as has been published in his country, has the citizen placed in prison sought "an agreement" with the Spanish Justice, nor do the Spanish judges reach "agreements" with the investigated so that they can leave prison,” they said. His younger relative, who was also arrested as part of the probe, was bailed late last Friday evening - and is still residing in Lanzarote.
Meanwhile a British businessman, who is known to Hutch, is understood to be the only other of the nine arrested individuals to be remanded into custody. Hutch and this businessman are alleged to be the two “leaders” of an alleged criminal organisation that Spanish authorities have alluded to. Late on Friday the Canary Islands High Court of Justice stated that the judicial authority on duty in the judicial district of Arrecife de Lanzarote “has taken statements today from nine people as alleged members of a gang of international criminals, who are being investigated as alleged perpetrators of money laundering crimes committed in the scope of a criminal organization.”
The spokesman said that the investigating magistrate ordered that what he alleged were two of the criminal organisations “leaders” have been refused bail and “decreed provisional release with charges and precautionary measures for the other seven. “The investigation continues, it is not closed, and the proceedings are declared secret,” the spokesman continued. Hutch and his young relative were awoken in the middle of the night when Spanish Police moved to arrest him in his Lanzarote home.
The arrest was timed with a search of Hutch’s home in Clontarf in Dublin. Laptops, phones and other devices are understood to have been seized from Hutch’s cul de sac home following an early morning raid assisted by armed officers of the Garda Emergency Response Unit. Meanwhile it has emerged that a female associate of ‘The Monk,’ who is wanted by the Spanish police as part of the probe, is openly residing here in Ireland - but has not been detained. The woman is wanted in connection with the Spanish probe - but gardai do not have the power to hand her over to authorities there without a European Arrest Warrant.
This week authorities in the Canary Islands High Court of Justice even named ‘The Monk’ and stated the investigation relates to drug and human trafficking - which differs with a Garda statement alleging money laundering related offences.
“With regards to the alleged international gang arrested in Lanzarote yesterday, the duty court in the Lanzarote capital Arrecife, which is Court of Investigation Number Two, confirms that searches have been carried out in homes in Lanzarote, on the mainland and in Ireland, and that a group of people whose number has not been determined have been arrested.
“Among them are an Irish citizen identified in the international press as The Monk,” The High Court of Justice said. “The proceedings are secret and in the next few days they will be brought before the courts for crimes allegedly related to drug trafficking and human trafficking. “Their judicial status will be made public if approved by the relevant judicial authority when this occurs.”
Video of Hutch’s arrest could be released when matters end up being made public in the Spanish courts. The arrest comes amid reports that Hutch had told people he was very seriously considering running in Ireland’s general election.
Hutch was reportedly eyeing up a seat in Dublin Central - running against Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald.
In Wednesday’s operation, 10 searches took place in Spain, with Gardaí from the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation supporting the Guardia Civil. The search of the Hutch house took place following an International Letter of Request from the Spanish authorities, Gardaí said. The Dublin search was led by the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation, with support from the Criminal Assets Bureau and the Emergency Response Unit. Garda spokesman said investigations are ongoing.
He said : "This morning, 23 October 2024 searches have taken place in Spain and Ireland targeting a Transnational Organised Crime Group suspected to be involved in Money Laundering across a number of jurisdictions.
"Ten (10) searches were conducted in Spain. Gardaí from the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation (GNBCI) are present in Spain supporting the Guardia Civil. One (1) search has taken place at a residential property in Dublin following receipt of an ILOR (International Letter of Request/ Mutual Legal Assistance) from the Spanish authorities. The search in Dublin was carried out by Gardaí attached to the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation (GNBCI).
“An Officer from the Guardia Civil is in attendance and the search is supported by the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) and the Emergency Response Unit (ERU). "This morning’s operation is part of ongoing liaison between the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation and Guardia Civil in Spain, which targets a Transnational Organised Crime Group who are located both in Ireland and Spain.
"A previous search targeting the group was conducted in Lanzarote in June 2022 by Guardia Civil on behalf of GNBCI. Investigations are ongoing." Last April Hutch was sensationally acquitted in the Special Criminal Court of the gangland murder of Kinahan cartel associate David Byrne at Dublin's Regency Hotel.
During Hutch’s trial, a senior Garda detective gave evidence for the first time about the existence of the Hutch crime gang. Detective Superintendent Dave Gallagher, of the Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau, said in his opinion the group is made up of “close family members” and came together and “galvanised” after the Kinahan feud exploded.
He described it as being made up of “intergenerational” family bonds and was based predominantly in Dublin City Centre. The Hutch criminal organisation is made up, he said, of “close family members,” and is “less hierarchical” than some other criminal organisations. It operates on what he called a “patriarchal system” and that it was based off “loyalty” and “monetary gain.”
The Detective Superintendent said that historically the Hutch criminal organisation was “quite a fluid organisation” that had participants, associates and affiliates working together to commit certain crimes."
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