Freedom to return to Ireland raises the chances of Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch running for the Dáil
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Gerry Hutch’s hopes of standing in the General Election were given a boost on Tuesday after it emerged he is free to travel to Ireland.
Court officials also confirmed his bid to run for the Dáil had been a fundamental part of his successful appeal against his remand in prison.
It had been thought a judge who provisionally released him on €100,000 bail on Monday had imposed strict conditions including a travel ban. But court officials confirmed on Tuesday no conditions were attached to the release.
Hutch, 61, was one of two of the nine suspects held in Lanzarote during dawn raids on October 23 who were remanded in custody after a behind-closed-doors court hearing in the island capital Arrecife two days later.
He and an alleged British associate were sent to Lanzarote's Tahiche Prison before it emerged on Monday Hutch had been provisionally released.
The Canary Islands’ High Court press office said on Tuesday in a statement: “With regards to the alleged leader of an international criminal gang who yesterday was provisionally released on bail of 100,000 euros, Court of Instruction Number Two in Arrecife informs that apart from the aforementioned bail to ensure his presence at the trial, no other precautionary measures have been imposed.
“One of the main arguments taken into account by both the prosecutor in his favourable report on the conceding of bail and the investigating magistrate when taking the decision is that the person under investigation alleged in his appeal the withdrawal of his passport or other measures limiting his movements would prevent his free access to the elections.
“He alleged that would cause irreparable damage to his right to passive suffrage, which remains intact. Only a conviction can prevent him from standing for election. The other person remanded in prison on October 25th remains in prison. A secrecy order over the case is still in place."
Court officials have confirmed Hutch is being investigated on suspicion of money laundering.
In their statement on Tuesday they said: “The Irish citizen remanded in custody in Lanzarote on October 25th as the alleged leader of an international criminal gang has been provisionally released on bail of 100,000 euros this morning, November 4th, after Court of Instruction Number Two in Arrecife upheld his appeal against the imprisonment order.
“The investigating magistrate took this decision after receiving a report from the Public Prosecutor's Office which was favourable to the appeal. The Irish citizen is being investigated as the alleged perpetrator of a money laundering offence committed in the context of a criminal organisation.”
Overnight reports claimed Hutch was “more determined than ever” to stand in the General Election. He was also said to be furious over the garda dawn raid on his Clontarf home when they knew he was out of the country.
Hutch has been openly travelling between Ireland and Spain using his own passport since he was acquitted last year of the murder of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel in 2016.
Despite his determination to run for the Dáil he faces an uphill battle to get enough votes, according to a Sunday Independent/Ireland Thinks poll at the weekend. Just 8% of people said they would consider giving Hutch a No.1 vote if he was to run as a candidate in their constituency.