Mother identified body of feud victim Derek Hutch, inquest hears

By Louise Roseingrave

Feud victim Derek Coakley Hutch (27) died of a gunshot wound to the head, an inquest has heard.

His mother Noeleen Coakley also gave evidence at the opening of an inquest into his death at Dublin Coroner’s Court.

In her deposition his mother said she identified her son’s body at Dublin City Morgue in Whitehall to Garda Sergeant Damian Gannon hours after the fatal shooting.

Mr Hutch from Liberty House in Dublin 1 was shot as he sat in a car parked at the Bridgeview halting site beside Cloverhill Prison at around 3pm on January 20 last.

He was the fourth member of the Hutch family to be killed over a two year period and the 14th victim of the Hutch/ Kinahan feud.

Sgt Gannon in turn formally identified the remains to pathology staff for a post-mortem examination.

The autopsy was conducted by Deputy State Pathologist Dr Linda Mulligan the day after his death. The cause of death was given as a gunshot wound to the head.

Coakley Hutch was a nephew of Gerry Hutch, also known as The Monk. Another uncle, Eddie Hutch and two cousins, Gary and Gareth have all been shot dead as part of the Hutch Kinahan feud. The father of two was spared a jail sentence two months before his death.

Coakley Hutch had gone to Cloverhill Prison earlier on the day of his death to visit his brother Nathan. He had returned to the area later that day in a car with two other men.

Coroner Dr Myra Cullinane was told the the matter was still under Garda investigation and a six month adjournment of the inquest was sought as criminal proceedings were possible.

The coroner adjourned the case for further mention on October 4 2018.