He noted Patrick Curtis had some difficulty dealing with the detailed nature of the instructions for murder that he received, which caused him to compromise the security of the encrypted phone issued to him by the cartel by taking screen shots of his instructions on his unencrypted phone.
Referring to Mohammed Smew, Mr Justice Hunt said that the “startling feature” of this case was the “relative stability and prosperity of his childhood years” compared to the “dysfunctional and chaotic upbringings of many who become involved in such matters”.
Both of Smew’s parents are doctors and he had embarked on a law degree at Griffith College.
Patrick Curtis (38), of Bellman’s Walk, Seville Place, Dublin, was jailed for 10 years, while his co-accused Smew (27), of Milner’s Square, Shanowen Road, Santry, Dublin, was sentenced to seven and a half years in prison for their role in the plot to murder Patrick ‘Patsy’ Hutch between February 1 and March 10, 2018.
They are the last two men to be sentenced for their involvement in the plan to kill Mr Hutch – a brother of the leader of the rival Hutch organised crime group.