Posted by Gerry Hutch, known as “The Monk,” was associated with the Bugsy Malones, a youth gang in Dublin’s north inner city during the 1970s. Named after the 1976 film Bugsy Malone, the gang consisted of teenagers, including a young Hutch, who engaged in petty crimes like stealing cars, shoplifting, and “jumpovers” (raiding shop tills). Operating around Summerhill and Sean McDermott Street, they were more a loose subculture than an organized crime syndicate, despite later mythologizing. Hutch, born in 1963, grew up in this impoverished area, and his involvement with the Bugsy Malones marked his early descent into criminality.
By the 1980s, Hutch had moved beyond petty crime, allegedly masterminding major robberies, including the 1987 Beetson’s Jewellers heist (£1.2 million) and the 1995 Brinks-Allied depot raid (£2.8 million). He became the figurehead of the Hutch crime organization, focusing on armed robbery and later property investments, though he consistently denied drug trafficking. His reputation for discipline and low-profile living earned him the “Monk” nickname. The Bugsy Malones faded as Hutch’s activities escalated, but the gang’s notoriety lingered due to his later infamy, particularly during the Hutch-Kinahan feud (2015–2018), which left 18 dead, including his brother and nephews.
Recent sources highlight Hutch’s early days with the Bugsies in documentaries like RTÉ’s AKA The Monk (February 2025), emphasizing the social deprivation that fueled such gangs. While Hutch was acquitted of David Byrne’s 2016 murder in 2023, his 2024 Dáil candidacy in Dublin Central—where he narrowly lost—reignited interest in his Bugsy Malone roots, framing him as a product of a neglected community. Critics argue this romanticizes his past, given his alleged role in serious crime.
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