Fiona Baxter, our principal solicitor, had the opportunity to speak to RTE News about the Arrest of Gerard Hutch on foot of a European Arrest Warrant. A link to the programme is given here and you can find the transcription of the segment below.

Gerard Hutch, known as the Monk, remains in custody in Spain following his arrest on foot of a European arrest warrant. His extradition is being sought by Gardai investigating the murder of David Burn at the Regency Hotel in Dublin in February 2016.

Gerard Hutch left Ireland soon after the Regency Hotel attack in 2016 and has only been seen in public here once since, at the funeral, of his brother Eddie, another victim of the Hutch Kinahan feud. Pictured beside him that day, was Noel Kirwan who was subsequently shot by the Kinahan gang. The man known as the Monk now remains in custody in Spain following his arrest on foot of a European arrest warrant. It’s believed he was detained in Fuengirola on the Costa del Sol last night. A European arrest warrant had been issued for Jared Hutch back in April of this year in connection with the attack on the Regency Hotel.

In 2016, the High Court had issued the warrant following an application by the Director of Public Prosecutions for the arrest of Mr Hutch.

” This is not a warrant that brings you home for an investigation. It’s basically to make it very simple. It’s either to serve a sentence that you’ve already been convicted of and sentenced to and you’ve skipped bail or something, or it’s the face trial. ” – Pat Leahy, Former Assistant Garda Commissioner

The 58-year old’s extradition had been sought by the Gardai in Ballymun, which has been investigating the murder of David Burn at the hotel. The 34-year-old Kinahan Organized Crime Group member was shot dead at a boxing win by a gang of armed men dressed as Gardi. Gardai believe the Regency attack was carried out by the Hutch Organized Crime Group in retaliation for the murder of Gary Hutch, the nephew of the Monk, in Spain in September of 2015. Gerald Hunch is wanted to face trial in Ireland, but it’s believed that the extradition process may take at least three months.

“If he is consenting to his surrender, he could be back within the country within a very short number of weeks. Usually, it takes an average of 14 days. If he decides to contest the warrant, he’d be entitled to raise what’s known as points of objection. And if that’s the case, it could take up to 90 days before there’s a final determination by the Spanish authorities.” – Fiona Baxter, Baxter Mimnagh Solicitors

A person that is subject to a European arrest warrant is entitled to apply for bail. But given the seriousness of the charges pending here in Ireland, Gerard Hutch could face some difficulty.