Sunday 1 November 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 1976Directing organised crime · Co. Dublin

DPP considering directing organised crime charges in Dublin

Gerry Hutch, a man aged 59 or 61, is under investigation for directing a crime gang in Dublin, with a four-year Garda file submitted to the DPP in 2024 recommending charges. Former superintendent John Murphy, a man aged 62 or 64, was questioned by the NBCI in January 2023 over suspected links to Hutch while serving a six-and-a-half-year sentence for holding nearly €260,000 worth of cannabis at his Clontarf home. Hutch was acquitted of the 2016 murder of David Byrne at Dublin's Regency Hotel in April 2023 and was separately arrested in Lanzarote, Spain, in October 2024 over a money-laundering investigation. As of March 2025, the DPP has not yet decided whether to bring charges against Hutch, Murphy, and two suspended serving gardaí.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrested2 Feb
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court30 Jan
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • A four-year Garda investigation found evidence that former superintendent John Murphy allegedly leaked highly sensitive intelligence to the Hutch organised crime group and other serious criminals.
  • Gerry Hutch is suspected of directing a crime gang, an offence carrying up to life in prison.
Where
Murphy was taken from his cell in Midlands Prison, Portlaoise, Co Laois, and questioned at a Dublin Garda station for several hours.
When
Murphy was questioned by the NBCI on 31 January 2023, and Hutch was arrested at his home in Lanzarote on 25 October 2024 as part of a Guardia Civil investigation.
Investigation
  • A file on Hutch and a group of former and serving gardaí was submitted to the DPP in 2024 following the largest anti-corruption investigation in the history of the force.
  • Hutch is under a separate money-laundering investigation by Spanish police in Lanzarote, on €100,000 bail with no charges yet preferred.
Charges
Gardaí have recommended the DPP charge Hutch with directing a crime gang, and organised crime and corruption charges are being considered against Murphy and two serving gardaí.
In court
Hutch was acquitted of the 2016 murder of David Byrne at Dublin's Regency Hotel by the Special Criminal Court in April 2023.
Sentence
Murphy pleaded guilty to possession for sale or supply of cannabis at his Clontarf home in September 2021 and received a six-and-a-half-year sentence in 2022.
Other details
  • Three serving gardaí were suspended on suspicion of links to the Hutch gang, one of whom is a member of the Special Detective Unit.
  • The DPP is expected to decide shortly what, if any, charges Hutch should face in the Irish courts, with the file having sat in the DPP's office for months as of March 2025.
60 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatJohn Murphy was questioned by the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation on Tuesday (31 January 2023). (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe arrest was part of a major probe into Murphy's suspected connections to Gerry Hutch. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatMurphy was questioned at a Dublin Garda station for several hours before being brought back to prison. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatMurphy is suspected of passing information to the Hutch mob. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe NBCI has been investigating Hutch and suspected links to Murphy for more than a year with a view to charging Hutch with directing a crime gang. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatA serving garda is suspended as part of the same probe but has not been charged. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatMurphy was serving six and a half years for holding cannabis resin worth nearly €260,000. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatMurphy pleaded guilty to possession for sale or supply of cannabis at his home in Clontarf, north Dublin on 29 September 2021. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe total weight of the drugs was just under 13kg with a street value of €259,120. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatMurphy had built up financial debts of €855,000 due to poor business decisions after retiring from the force. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatMurphy is a married father of five. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatMurphy served 40 years of public service in the Defence Forces and as a garda. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereMurphy was taken from his cell in Midlands Prison in Portlaoise, Co Laois. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereHutch was arrested at his home in Lanzarote on 25 October 2024 as part of a Guardia Civil investigation. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThe Garda investigative file is almost complete and expected to be sent to the DPP within weeks with a recommendation to charge Hutch. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationA file was submitted to the DPP on Mr Hutch and a group of former and serving gardaí following the largest anti-corruption investigation in the history of the force. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationA long-running Garda investigation found evidence that former superintendent John Murphy allegedly leaked highly sensitive intelligence to the Hutch organised crime group and other serious criminals. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationIn 2021, Mr Hutch was tipped-off that an international warrant had been issued for his arrest in relation to allegations he was behind the 2016 Regency Hotel attack. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationIn 2023, Murphy was arrested while in prison by NBCI detectives and questioned over his links to Mr Hutch and other criminals. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationMr Hutch was taken from prison under warrant by gardaí and questioned over his role in the alleged corruption. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationThe recommendation is contained in a file sent to the DPP the previous year. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThe file is the culmination of a four-year inquiry into suspicions that criminals were passed intelligence by a retired garda. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThree serving gardai were suspended on suspicion of having links to the Hutch gang. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationHutch is being investigated by Spanish police over allegations of money laundering. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationA four-year file on Gerry Hutch directing organised crime has been sitting in the DPP's office for months. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationA senior Garda source said they believe they have enough evidence to take Hutch to court. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationHutch is under investigation for money-laundering in Lanzarote, Spain. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThe Spanish authorities are giving no indication as to how their investigation is progressing against Hutch. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeOrganised crime and corruption charges are being considered against Murphy, Mr Hutch and two serving gardaí. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeMr Hutch is suspected of helping to run a criminal organisation, an offence which carries a potential life sentence. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeGardaí have recommended the DPP charge Gerry Hutch with directing a crime gang. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtGerry Hutch appeared in court. (extra.ie)
  • courtJudge Martin Nolan sentenced Murphy at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe DPP is expected to decide shortly what, if any, charges Mr Hutch should face in the Irish courts. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe DPP is expected to reach a decision on potential charges in Ireland early this year. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtMr Hutch's arrest occurred shortly before his trial in relation to the Regency attack which ended in his acquittal in 2023. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtHutch was acquitted of the murder of David Byrne in April 2023 by the Special Criminal Court. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtHutch was named in the High Court by the Criminal Assets Bureau as leader of the Hutch crime family. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtHutch was found not guilty by the Special Criminal Court of the 2016 murder of David Byrne at Dublin's Regency Hotel. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceMurphy pleaded guilty to drug offences and in 2022 received a 6½ year sentence. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceThe offence of directing a crime gang carries up to life in prison. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherGerry Hutch's legal team were laughing for much of the time during the court appearance. (extra.ie)
  • otherThe DPP is considering new organised crime charges against Gerry Hutch in relation to alleged widespread Garda corruption. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe two serving gardaí are currently suspended and may face corruption charges. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherMr Hutch has repeatedly stated he is not involved in crime. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe case is separate from an investigation by Spanish police that Mr Hutch used his properties in Lanzarote to engage in large-scale money laundering. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherMr Hutch is currently on bail in relation to the money laundering investigation after a Spanish court released him last November to pursue his general election run. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe alleged tip-off allowed Mr Hutch to evade authorities for several months before his eventual arrest in Spain in 2021. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherOfficers found €260,000 worth of cannabis hidden throughout Murphy's property. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherHutch was named in the High Court by the Criminal Assets Bureau as the head of the Hutch Organised Crime Gang. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherEx-Superintendent John Murphy is currently locked up after pleading guilty to drugs charges. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherOne of the suspended gardai is a member of the anti-terror Special Detective Unit. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherHutch was released on bail of €100,000 in Spain. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherSpanish authorities alleged Hutch was the leader of an international crime gang. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherHutch has not been convicted of any offence related to the two separate investigations. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe Kinahan-Hutch feud resulting from the Byrne killing led to 18 deaths. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherNo charges have been preferred against Hutch in Spain yet. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherHutch owns several properties on Lanzarote which he rents to local people at affordable prices. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherHutch is believed to be an investor in a number of bars around Puerto Del Carmen. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherGardaí say Hutch flies in and out of Ireland all the time since threats against him have receded after the demise of the Kinahan organisation. (irishmirror.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 30 Mar2025
    Otheririshmirror.ie, first report
    Gardai don't know if they will be allowed to prosecute Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch

    Reports that a four-year file on Gerry Hutch directing organised crime is awaiting a DPP decision, and that he is under a separate money-laundering investigation in Lanzarote, Spain, on €100,000 bail with no charges yet preferred.

    suspect, Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch, male, named, irish (judged from name)Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch
  2. 28 Jan2025
    Otheririshmirror.ie, first report
    Gardai want fresh 'The Monk' charge that could see him locked up for life

    Reports that Gardaí have recommended a fresh charge of directing a crime gang to the DPP, the culmination of a four-year inquiry into links between the Hutch gang and a retired superintendent. Also details a parallel Spanish money-laundering investigation.

    suspect, Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch, 61, male, named, irish (judged from name)Gerry 'The Monk' Hutchsuspect, John Murphy, 64, male, named, irish (judged from name)John Murphy
  3. 27 Jan2025
    Otheririshtimes.com, follow-up
    DPP considers charges against Gerry Hutch over alleged Garda corruption

    Provides detailed background on the specific charges being considered (directing a crime gang for Hutch, enhancing the ability of a criminal organisation for Murphy, corruption for two serving gardaí), the timeline of the investigation, the 2021 tip-off regarding the Regency Hotel warrant, the €260,000 cannabis seizure at Murphy's Clontarf home, and the separate Spanish money laundering investigation.

    suspect, Gerry Hutch, male, named, irish (judged from name)Gerry Hutchsuspect, John Murphy, male, named, irish (judged from name)John Murphysuspectsuspect
  4. 2 Feb2023
    Arrestedirishmirror.ie, follow-up
    Ex-garda arrested over probe into suspected links to Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch

    Murphy was arrested under a section 42 warrant from his cell in Midlands Prison and questioned at a Dublin Garda station; the NBCI file is almost complete and expected to be sent to the DPP within weeks with a recommendation to charge Hutch with directing a crime gang. A serving garda is also suspended in the same probe.

    suspect, John Murphy, 62, male, named at arrest, irish (judged from name)John Murphysuspect, Gerry Hutch, 59, male, named at arrest, irish (judged from name)Gerry Hutch
  5. 30 Jan2023
    In courtextra.ie, follow-up
    Gerry Hutch Appeared To Hold Court As Legal Team Were Laughing For Much Of The Time

    Reports that Gerry Hutch's legal team were laughing for much of the time during his court appearance.

    suspect, Gerry Hutch, named, irish (judged from name)Gerry Hutch