Gerry Hutch is accused of plotting an assassination attempt on Daniel Kinahan at an MTK boxing event.
Gerry Hutch has appeared in a Dublin court, after an Irish military aircraft was used to extradite him from Spain. In Ireland Hutch is to face charges of murder over the Regency Hotel Shooting, which occurred in 2016.
That shooting occurred at a boxing weigh-in show being produced by Macklin’s Gym Marbella, a company co-founded by Daniel Kinahan; the alleged leader of the $1 billion narcotics smuggling outfit often refereed to as the Kinahan Cartel.
During that shooting, in which five armed men—some dressed as police officers—stormed the crowded hotel, David Byrne was killed. Byrne was accused of being one of the top lieutenants of the Kinahan Cartel. However, it is believed that Daniel Kinahan was the intended target.
After the shooting Kinahan fled to Dubai, where he is believed to currently reside. Macklin’s Gym Marbella then rebranded to MTK Global, which has since grown to become one of the most powerful players in boxing, with Tyson Fury, Darren Till and many other top combat sports athletes on their books. MTK claims Kinahan is no longer involved with the company or its roster, despite a large amount of evidence to the contrary.
The Regency Hotel Shooting was part of the ongoing Hutch-Kinahan feud, a bloody gang war that has resulted in at least 18 deaths. The feud started in 2015 when Gary Hutch—Gerry Hutch’s nephew—was executed by suspected Kinahan associates in Spain.
After that killing, the Kinahan Cartel reportedly tried to make peace with the Hutch Gang. However, Hutch is believed to have rejected their advances. This lead to a number of Hutch’s associates being killed, including his brother and another nephew. There was also a failed attempt on Hutch’s life at a bar in Lanzarote.
It is believed that the Regency Hotel Shooting was revenge for the attempt on Hutch’s life. Since the shooting Hutch had been hiding out in Europe.
Earlier this year a Europe-wide arrest warrant was issued for Hutch in relation to the shooting. He was finally arrested Spain this August.
According to Irish Times Hutch only spoke one word during his court appearance on Wednesday; a ‘Yes’ to confirm his name. A trial has been set for October 3rd, 2022.
Four other men are currently set to stand trial over the shooting. Among them is former Dublin city councillor Jonathan Dowdall. Dowdall is accused of being one of the gunmen involved in the attack. The other three men, including Dowdall’s father, are accused of providing support to the gunmen.