CRIMINAL mastermind Gerry Hutch is openly enjoying his freedom out and about in pubs and bars in Lanzarote as cops continue to hunt the rivals who once placed a €1m bounty on his head.
Our photo shows The Monk— who celebrated his 60th birthday behind bars at Dublin’s Wheatfield Prison last April — as he recently met with pals at an Irish boozer in the Puerto Calero area of the island.
Locals say he has a number of “minders” but he is widely supported in the area and also has access to a number of properties on the island.
A source said: “Hutch loves it in Lanzarote, he is fairly relaxed and just goes about his business. He appears to have a number of minders, but that’s hardly surprising with the threat to his life. But the people there have great respect and time for him.”
Hutch rang in the New Year over there, exactly eight years after he escaped a Kinahan hit team led by killer Eamonn Cumberton after they stormed a bar he was in.
His calm life is a far cry from the pressure that enemy mob boss Daniel Kinahan and his faction are under.
The Government is to open formal negotiations with the UAE on new extradition measures aimed at tackling organised crime.
The leadership of the cartel — Daniel, 46, Christy Snr, 66, and Christoper Jnr, 43 — have been running their €1billion drugs and arms cartel at liberty in Dubai since 2017.
However, after being placed under sanctions by the US Government and now as the Director of Public Prosecutions examines files in relation to the cartel, the gardai hope they will be returned to Ireland to face trial.
The crimes being examined include the murder onslaught embarked on by the gang following the Regency hotel attack, which saw anyone associated with The Monk a target.
The Kinahan gang orchestrated the murders of his brother Eddie and the attempts to kill siblings John — who later died from a fall — and Patsy.
His nephews Gary Hutch, Gareth Hutch and Derek Coakley Hutch were killed along with his pals Noel “Kingsize” Duggan and Noel Kirwan.
Despite the best efforts of the gang, and a €1 million bounty, they were never able to get to Gerry.
After a number of years fleeing the Kinahan mob and later the gardai, Hutch was returned to Ireland where he walked free last year after being acquitted of Byrne’s murder in February 2016.
Lanzarote return
Although it was thought The Monk would quickly leave, he stayed for a month, spending time with family and friends, and was seen riding around on a moped and taking strolls on the seafront.
He then returned to Lanzarote in May where much of his property portfolio is managed from.
He was spotted back in Clontarf in August and September, when he posed for artist Mike O’Donnell at his home for a dozen sketches that will go on display in an art exhibition this year.
The gardai continue to liaise with law enforcement abroad to keep a track of Hutch’s movements.
