Gerry ‘The Monk’ Hutch has returned to Dublin, was spotted posing with Santa and has seemingly confirmed he will run in the upcoming Dublin Central by-election.
17:29, 14 Dec 2025
Gerry Hutch and Santa
Gerry ‘The Monk’ Hutch is back in Dublin and has been seen posing with Santa – as he confirms he’s running in the upcoming by-election.
Hutch (62), who last week learned that prosecutors in Lanzarote are now weighing up a money laundering case against him, has returned to Ireland – and confirmed to a member of the public that he intends to run. The veteran gangland figure, who is back sporting a beard, was seen posing for pictures with members of the public and a man dressed as Santa Claus at the Five Lamps in Dublin city centre.
He is understood to have returned to Ireland from his part-time home Lanzarote in recent days. The man filming the video is heard asking Hutch if he’s running in the upcoming Dublin Central by-election, to which he can be heard responding “Ah yeah, yeah.”
Hutch has been seen out and about in the capital in recent days – calling into local pubs in the North inner city, where he has many friends and family. It comes as he was recently hit with an €800,000 tax bill by the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB), and the developments in the Lanzarote case.
Investigators want Hutch to face a trial potentially before a single judge for what is known as an ‘abbreviated process’ – meaning the court is dealing with alleged offences that cannot carry more than nine years behind bars. It comes after a magistrates judge in Lanzarote reviewed the evidence and recommended that it can potentially go to a trial. It is now up to the prosecutor to determine whether to do this.
Authorities have also stated on the record that The Monk’s ambition to run in next year’s by-election in Dublin Central would have “no bearing” on the proceedings going ahead or not. “In response to questions asked by Irish and British journalists in recent weeks, the criminal process is not affected in any way by the fact that the main person under investigation has announced or confirmed that he is running for election in his country,” the spokesperson for the High Court said.
Gerry Hutch with Santa Claus at the Five Lamps in Dublin
In its statement the Court spokesperson explained that the preliminary process had been transformed to what’s known as “an abbreviated procedure. “The Court of Instruction number 2 of Arrecife de Lanzarote has transformed into an abbreviated procedure the preliminary proceedings initiated at the time for alleged money laundering against an Irish citizen investigated as the alleged leader of an international gang of criminals.
“The investigated person was in pre-trial detention between October 25 and November 4, and is currently on bail. A total of 10 people are listed as investigated in the case. The procedure has been referred to the Public Prosecutor’s Office so that it can report on whether or not the oral trial is appropriate and, if so, issue a written provisional qualification. The identities of the persons investigated are protected by the Organic Law on Data Protection.”
Independent candidate Gerry Hutch leaves the RDS Simmonscourt, Dublin (file photo)(Image: Brian Lawless/PA Wire)
Explaining how the process works, the spokesperson went on to state: “Preliminary proceedings are transformed into an abbreviated procedure when the magistrate or examining judge, after examining all the evidence he has deemed appropriate, understands that there are rational indications of criminality to formalize a criminal process against the persons investigated.
“In cases where the penalty that could be requested in the abstract is less than nine years in prison, the abbreviated procedure is chosen, if the request could exceed this request, what would be initiated would be a summary.
Hutch was one of nine people arrested as part of a major joint garda investigation into alleged money laundering last year.. He was released from custody on a €100,000 bail. He then sensationally flew back to Dublin where he announced his whirlwind candidacy in the general election. He denied the accusations stating he was “innocent” and said the case was “nothing to do with me.”
The Monk has been hit with recent troubles after the CAB informed him that it will be coming after him for an alleged €800,000 in unpaid taxes from the years 2006 to 2010.
The case has yet to be opened before the High Court, but sources close to Hutch have stated to another newspaper that he has no intention of paying the bill. It came over a year on from when he was released from custody after being acquitted by the Special Criminal Court of being the shooter who killed Kinahan cartel associate David Byrne in Dublin’s Regency Hotel on February 5, 2016.
Gerry Hutch, left, and Daniel Kinahan, right
In her judgement however presiding Judge Tara Burns said while there was no evidence that Hutch committed the murder, there was evidence that suggested he was in control of the firearms which were used in the shooting – after the event occurred.
Citing that he was all about “change,” Hutch had just a few short weeks to launch his campaign – which was primarily done via social media. He also appeared on the Crime World podcast – and told the Sunday Independent at the time why he was running.
I’m doing it because people in my community asked me to. I want to serve the people of Dublin 1,3, and 7. I want to serve the country. I’ve a list as long as my arm on the things that need to be done,” he said. “But I’m not the type of person who would be anyone for their vote. If you want to vote for me, then do. I won’t be twisting anyone’s arm. I will be out, knocking on certain doors. People can tell me to f**k off if they’re not interested. I have to expect that cheek from people. Am I confident I’ll get elected? Absolutely I am.”
Sign up to our new Crime Ireland newsletter and get exclusive content from Michael O’Toole and Paul Healy
The Irish Mirror’s Crime Writers Michael O’Toole and Paul Healy are writing a new weekly newsletter called Crime Ireland. Click here to sign up and get it delivered to your inbox every week
For more of the latest breaking news from the Irish Mirror check out our homepage by clicking here
