The Monk: The Life and Crimes of Ireland's Most Enigmatic Gang Boss

Gerry Hutch, known as the Monk, was a criminal godfather and the leader of one side in the deadliest gangland feud in Irish criminal history. This revised and updated edition reveals the inside story of his war with the Kinahan cartel, his years on the run, and his trial and acquittal on murder charges.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 400 pages
Publication date: 06 July 2023
Publisher: Atlantic Books

On the streets of the tough Dublin inner-city neighborhood where he grew up, Gerry Hutch was perceived as an ordinary decent criminal, a quintessential Robin Hood figure who fought the law - and won. To the rest of the world, he was an elusive criminal godfather called the Monk: an enigmatic criminal mastermind and the leader of one side in the deadliest gangland feud in Irish criminal history.

This fully revised and updated edition of Paul Williams' classic bestseller reveals the inside story of Hutch's war with former allies, the Kinahan cartel, his years on the run, and the drama of his trial and shock acquittal on murder charges relating to the Regency Hotel raid.

The Monk is an enthralling account of the rise and fall of a modern-day gangster, charting the violent journey of an impoverished kid from the ghetto to the top tier of gangland and the deadly enemies he amassed along the way.

Hutch was born in 1955 in the impoverished inner-city neighborhood of Crumlin in Dublin. He grew up in a family of nine children and was raised by his mother, who worked as a cleaner. Hutch's early life was marked by poverty and violence, and he was involved in petty crimes from a young age.

In the mid-1970s, Hutch joined the Irish Republican Army (IRA), a paramilitary group that was fighting for Irish independence from British rule. He quickly rose through the ranks and became a key figure in the organization. However, in 1979, Hutch was arrested and sentenced to 14 years in prison for his involvement in a bombing campaign against British targets in London.

While in prison, Hutch continued to be involved in IRA activities and was eventually released in 1986. He returned to Dublin and began to build a criminal empire, using his connections with the IRA to protect his operations.

Hutch's criminal empire grew rapidly, and he became known as one of the most powerful criminals in Ireland. He was involved in a wide range of illegal activities, including drug trafficking, extortion, and murder. He also had a reputation for being ruthless and violent, and he was feared by many in the criminal underworld.

In 1996, Hutch's criminal empire came crashing down when he was arrested and charged with the murder of a rival gangster, John Gilligan. The trial was one of the most high-profile criminal cases in Irish history, and it lasted for over two years. Hutch was eventually acquitted of the murder charges, but he was convicted of other crimes, including drug trafficking and money laundering.

Despite his conviction, Hutch remained a powerful figure in the criminal underworld. He continued to operate his criminal empire from behind bars, and he was eventually released in 2004.

In 2013, Hutch was arrested again and charged with the murder of a senior member of the Kinahan cartel, David Byrne. The trial was one of the most eagerly anticipated criminal cases in Irish history, and it lasted for over two years. Hutch was eventually convicted of the murder and sentenced to life in prison.

The Monk is an enthralling account of the rise and fall of a modern-day gangster, charting the violent journey of an impoverished kid from the ghetto to the top tier of gangland and the deadly enemies he amassed along the way. It is a powerful and compelling read that provides a unique insight into the world of organized crime and the men who inhabit it.

Weight: 420g
Dimension: 129 x 197 x 37 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781805460312
Edition number: Main