No prosecution for Garda ombudsman member accused of attending Hutch party

Reports emerged in April 2023 that an officer with GSOC attended a party with Mr Hutch, known as “the Monk”, the day he was acquitted of the 2016 Regency hotel murder of David Byrne, in what became the first deadly attacks of the Hutch-Kinahan gangland feud.

The Director of Public Prosecutions has decided not to seek prosecution over accusations that a Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) member attended a party after the acquittal of Gerry Hutch, according to gardaí.

Reports emerged in April 2023 that an officer with GSOC attended a party with Mr Hutch, known as “the Monk”, the day he was acquitted of the 2016 Regency hotel murder of David Byrne, in what became the first deadly attacks of the Hutch-Kinahan gangland feud.

At the time, the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation searched a home in Dublin and arrested a man in his 60s.

He was detained on suspicion of an offence contrary to section 81 of the Garda Siochana Act 2005.

That section relates to members of GSOC disclosing information obtained in carrying out the duties of that person’s office if the disclosure is likely to have a harmful effect.

He was released without charge, and a file was sent to the DPP for consideration.

On Wednesday, a Garda spokesman said: “Following the submission of a file for consideration of the Director of Public Prosecutions in this investigation, a decision of no prosecution was returned.

“An Garda Síochána has no further comment at this time.”