GERRY ‘The Monk’ Hutch is as charismatic as former US President Bill Clinton, it has been claimed.
Artist Mike O’Donnell made the claim as he prepares to launch an exhibition featuring 12 drawings of the veteran crime boss.
Clik here to view.
Clik here to view.
Clik here to view.
The event – entitled ‘Released’ – will be launched by filmmaker Jim Sheridan in Listowel, Co Kerry on Saturday and will feature 26 pieces of the artist’s work.
Prices range from €7,500 to €100,000 for the main title piece, which will be unveiled for the first time at the event.
Other drawings will feature moments from Hutch’s trial at the Special Criminal Court before he was cleared of the murder of Kinahan cartel gang member David Byrne, senior Sinn Fein figure Martin Byrne, as well as one of US Supreme Court artist Art Lien.
Hutch won’t be present at the exhibition as he remains in Lanzarote.
Mike said: “I met Bill Clinton in 1999 and just like him, Gerry Hutch had an abundance of charisma.
“There are few people I have met who have that type of charisma but Gerry is one of them.
“I presume he was under a lot of pressure at the time but he still found the time to welcome me into his home.
“He was very engaging, considerate and exuded good energy.
“He never asked for anything and just showed me nothing but kindness.”
Mike added: “With regards to my drawings, I wanted to show the triumph of the human spirit over adversity.
“I have respect for all of the people I drew as human beings.
‘Serious matters’
“Gerry Hutch grew up in a very disadvantaged background and everything was against him but he spoke in glowing terms of the capital.”
Mike said the pair never discussed Byrne’s murder at Dublin’s Regency Hotel in February, 2016, nor the violence with the Kinahan cartel that followed, which ultimately claimed 18 lives.
The artist said: “I wanted him very relaxed, so we never spoke about serious matters.
“It was communicated to me that he liked my work and could he have one of the pictures.
“At the time I was unable to give him any, but I was able to send him a signed picture after the hearing ended, before the verdict.”