The failure to convict Gerry Hutch was a “setback”, the Garda Commissioner has said. 

Last week, the Special Criminal Court found Hutch not guilty of the murder of David Byrne and said they did not believe the evidence of state witness Jonathan Dowdall. 

Garda Commissioner Drew Harris is due to meet with the Director of Public Prosecutions over the State’s failure to secure a conviction. 

“Yes, there will be setbacks,” Commissioner Harris told journalists. 

“But the prize is that we actually break down these organised crime groups - we are determined to do that. 

“So, with that in mind, the prize is making Ireland a hard place for organised crime - that’s what I’m determined to do.

“And if I might say, these gangs have some notoriety but my gang is bigger than their gang.” 

Gerry The Monk Hutch being followed by the media and reporters after being freed following his court case at the Criminal Courts, 18-04-2023. Image: Lazarov/RollingNews

Earlier this week, a Garda Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) officer resigned after allegations were made that he attended a party where Hutch was present. 

GSOC has asked An Garda Síochána to investigate the incident and Commissioner Harris said it would proceed as quickly as possible. 

“I have been in contact with the Commissioners of GSOC,” he said. 

“They’re working closely with us on this and they’re very anxious that we proceed with our work as quickly as possible and we’ve undertaken to do that. 

“We’ve appointed the National Bureau of Criminal Investigations to look at this matter and they are now examining the records within GSOC [and] the circumstances within this to see is there any potential criminality.”

Hutch has a string of criminal convictions dating back to the 1970s.

Main image: Garda Commissioner Drew Harris.