Monk’s relative made official Gsoc complaint over alleged abuse of power after drug search

 • 21h ago

Aclose relative of Gerry ‘The Monk’ Hutch made an official complaint to the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (Gsoc) after being detained by gardaí for a drug search last year, it has emerged.

Independent.ieunderstands a garda was accused of having abused his powers by taking the complainant to a garda station in north Dublin.

Sources said the incident happened last July when a garda on patrol spotted two men who were acting suspiciously.

As the garda approached the pair, one of them ran off, leaving Hutch’s relative behind.

The person who fled the scene was later identified as being a close associate of Jason Bonney, who was convicted of facilitating the Hutch organised crime gang in the murder of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel in Dublin in 2016.

In the incident last July, when Hutch’s relative refused to co-operate with the garda, he was detained and taken to a garda station for a drug search. No drugs were found on the individual, and he was immediately released.

A few days later, The Monk’s relative, who has no convictions, lodged a complaint with the garda watchdog, alleging the officer concerned had abused his powers.

When Gsoc examined the complaint, the matter was found to be of a relatively minor nature. It was then referred back to garda management to conduct a disciplinary inquiry.

The inquiry subsequently found the officer concerned had not breached any regulations and therefore had no case to answer.

A source said: “The garda concerned had done his duty in accordance with regulations. He was completely cleared of any wrongdoing.”

The revelation comes after a senior Gsoc investigator was arrested on Thursday by detectives from the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation (NBCI).

The man, who is in his 60s and a former police officer with 40 years’ experience in another jurisdiction, is suspected of leaking sensitive information to the Hutch gang.

He resigned from the garda watchdog last week after it was discovered he had been a guest at a party for The Monk following his acquittal for the murder of drug dealer Byrne at the Regency.

He was released yesterday morning, and a file will now be prepared for the DPP.

The man’s rented accommodation was searched and specialist officers have been examining his phones and computers.

Independent.ierevealed that gardaí suspect the official had a relationship with close associates of The Monk going back over “a long period of time”.