CLEARED Regency suspect Gerry ‘The Monk’ Hutch treated himself to a takeaway following his release from prison — but the freed jailbird has his sights set on jetting off.
The Irish Sun can reveal cops believe the crime boss — who walked free from the Special Criminal Court on Monday after he was found not guilty of the murder of Kinahan thug David Byrne— has booked a number of different flights to prevent his enemies from stalking him.
Following a spate of bookings, the Dubliner has tickets for THREE different flights tomorrow.
And it was also rumoured that he had two flights booked to different European destinations today.
But despite the belief he would leave Ireland due to the threat against him from the Kinahan cartel, he was publicly spotted in Dublinthis afternoon.
The Irish Sun’s image shows Hutch carrying a bag of food as he went about his business.
After being acquitted on Monday, he strolled out the front door of the Criminal Courts of Justice sporting a thick beard and long hair.
But Hutch was clean-shaven with trimmed locks when spotted with his bag of takeaway grub.
He got the munchies as rumours swirl about where he’ll go now that he’s a free man.
One source said: “All the talk when he was on trial was that he would be off to Spain as soon as he got out of prison.
“But two days after he walked free from court he’s still being driven around Dublin and also out and about.
“Gerry Hutch knows he’s a target for the Kinahan cartel but he also knows there will be a Garda presence when he’s out and about.
“The belief is he had numerous flights booked so it would be impossible for people to track him.
“He’s likely to go to a different destination first before finally settling in his new home.”
Our source added: “It’s also possible he could keep moving around to frustrate anyone trying to find him.
“But he could also stay in Ireland because he knows a lot of damage has been caused to the Kinahan cartel with all the arrests and the group is now seen as toxic by other criminals.
“Gerry Hutch is now a free man so can go about his business as he chooses.
“There hasn’t been a murder in the feud since 2018 but these criminal organisations never forget. It could just take one individual to start things up again.
“Whatever Gerry Hutch decides to do next will no doubt be meticulously planned with a lot of thought going into it.”
It’s believed Hutch will at some point fly to a destination and remain in hiding there before finally settling in Spain.
However, it’s not clear if the 60-year-old will fly to Lanzarote — where the rival Kinahan cartel tried to kill him — or to southern Spain where he was arrested before being sent back to Ireland to stand trial for Byrne’s murder.
‘WISH HIM THE BEST’
If The Monk does leave Ireland, Gardai will still continue probed into the criminal gang known as The Hutch Organised Crime Group.
And officers from the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau will also continue with their cooperation with law enforcement agencies across Europe.
Hutch was spotted in Dublin after spending time at a relative’s house hours after he walked out of prison.
He was joined at the property by other relatives who haven’t seen him since his brother Eddie’s funeral in February 2016.
It’s also understood he attended another party where well-wishers gathered to celebrate his not guilty verdict.
Another local told us: “People enjoyed themselves after Gerard’s release and they all wish him the very best.
“Everyone is hoping that he can put this behind him and just get on with his life.”
The latest image of The Monk comes after his brother Patsy enjoyed a walk in his native north inner city Dublin on Monday.
Patsy — who has survived three bids by the Kinahan cartel to murder him — left his home hours after the Special Criminal Court heard how there was a “reasonable possibility” he had planned the Regency Hotel attack.
As she read out the judgment that cleared The Monk, Ms Justice Tara Burns said: “A reasonable possibility arises on the evidence that the Regency was planned by Patsy Hutch and that Gerard Hutch stepped in, as head of the family, to attempt to sort out the aftermath of the Regency, particularly as his own life was at risk.”
Patsy’s defiant stroll was one of the few times he has been seen in public after The Irish Sun snapped him with son Derek ‘Del Boy’ Hutch in August 2021.
‘RIGHT-HAND MAN’
It also comes after the Special Criminal Court heard that Patsy — whose son Gary was shot dead by the Kinahan cartel in southern Spain in September 2015 — had also been involved in handing over AK-47 assault rifles to dissident republican Shane Rowan after Byrne’s killing.
The shooting of Gary is the spark that ignited the Hutch-Kinahan feud.
In the years before his death, Gary was considered a senior member of the Kinahan cartel.
Spanish police surveillance between 2008 and 2010 classified Gary as being mob boss Daniel Kinahan’s “right-hand man”.
But tensions arose in February 2014 when a a €10million cartel drugs shipment was seized.
Gary was labelled a “rat”, which led to him recruiting a hitman to murder Daniel outside his pad in Estepona in August of that year.
However, the hit was a failure and the bond between the Hutch and Kinahan groups dismantled.
In the summer of 2015, a €200,000 compensation package was paid to the Kinahan cartel as the Hutches sought to protect Gary.
But on September 25, 2015, the cartel ignored the pact and had Gary shot dead at his apartment block in southern Spain.
Since then, the feud has resulted in the loss of 18 lives, with Byrne blasted dead at the Regency by a six-man hit team in February 2016.
His mum, Sadie, was in court to see Hutch get off on Monday.
