GANG boss Gerry ‘The Monk’ Hutch is back in Lanzarote — and expects the allegations of money laundering against him to be dropped in the next few weeks, pals claim.
His legal team on the holiday isle have been told privately by the Spanish judiciary that he is unlikely to face trial, The Irish Sun on Sunday understands.
The 61-year-old Dubliner was arrested and imprisoned by the Spanish Guardia Civil in a blaze of publicity in October after he indicated he was planning to run in the Irish General Election.
Spanish cops accused Hutch of buying properties in Lanzarote as part of a transnational money laundering operation.
The Monk was granted €100,000 bail so he could fly home and campaign in November’s General Election.
He almost won a seat in Dublin Central, missing out on the final count.
A disappointed Hutch flew back to the sun after Christmas and vowed to clear his name.
A friend said: “Gerry has been busy with his lawyers over the past few weeks.
“They have been told privately he is now unlikely to face trial and he expects all accusations against him to be dropped.
“He maintained all along he was innocent and that he bought all his properties in Lanzarote with legitimate, legal funds.
“He is also extremely annoyed that a relative of his, who was staying with him at the time and has never had anything to do with crime, was also arrested.
“Nine others who also had no involvement in crime were arrested and questioned.
“The Spanish police treated anyone who knew Gerry in Lanzarote as a suspect. He has co-operated fully with them and denied any wrongdoing.”
Film director Jim Sheridan, who has been making a documentary on The Monk and his election campaign, said: “I have been speaking to Gerry and he is back in the sunshine in Lanzarote.
“He is hoping to have his name cleared very soon.
“We are still working on the documentary and hope to sell it to one of the TV companies in the coming weeks. The Irish TV stations don’t seem to want to touch it for some reason.”
Another source who is living in Lanzarote said: “Gerry is very much seen as a man of the people in Lanzarote. He is very well liked in the Irish community and has good Spanish political connections.
“The Irish tourists love to see him and get his autograph.
LOCAL’S SHOCK AT ARREST
“His arrest last October came as a complete shock to everyone. He has always kept his nose clean out here so I would be expecting him to be cleared of any wrongdoing.”
Hutch is believed to own around ten properties on the island — mostly around Puerto del Carmen and Playa Blanca, all of which were searched by police.
He also owns a penthouse flat in the middle of Fuengirola on the Costa Del Sol. The Monk has a legitimate property business registered in his own name on the island and pays taxes there.
Gardai allege he started his property empire with cash stolen from the Marino Mart robbery and Brinks Allied raids years ago — which he has always denied.
Since he was cleared of the murder of Kinahan gangster David Byrne in the Regency Hotel by the Special Criminal Court almost two years ago, The Monk has spent most of his time in Lanzarote.
He has owned a home there for over a decade — where the Kinahan cartel tried unsuccessfully to assassinate him a few years ago.
