Gerry Hutch murder trial could be longest in history of the State The trial is due to start on October 3 next year
ByMichael O'Toole 13:44, 9 OCT 2021UPDATED15:05, 9 OCT 2021
Prosecutors expect the murder trial of Gerry Hutch to last up to three months — which would be the longest ever in the State, it has emerged.
Court documents seen by the Irish Mirror show that 12 weeks have been set aside for the trial of Mr Hutch, who is charged with the murder of Kinahan cartel associate David Byrne.
Mr Hutch is charged with killing Mr Byrne, 33, at the Regency Airport Hotel in north Dublin on February 5 2016.
The trial is due to start on October 3 next year – and if it does last the full 12 weeks, it will bring it into 2023, when the Christmas court holiday is taken into account.
Mr Hutch, 58, is locked up in Dublin’s Wheatfield Prison after he was extradited from Spain last week to appear before the non-jury Special Criminal Court in the city – and is back there later this month.
Four other men are currently before the courts over the murder of Mr Byrne and are due to stand trial at the same time as The Monk – but it is possible Mr Hutch may get his own trial.
His barrister Brendan Grehan SC told the court last week that the defence team was considering an application for a separate trial.
Hutch appeared in court last Wednesday week.
He spoke only to say “yes” when he was asked to confirm his identity.
Hours earlier, he had been extradited from Spain on Air Corps CASA aircraft that landed at Casement Aerodrome in Baldonnel, south Dublin.
He was arrested in Malaga on the Costa Del Sol in August by a Guardia Civil fugitive unit.
