THE mother of Gareth Hutch says his murder caused the “destruction of a family and a future that can never be reclaimed” as a Kinahan cartel thug was sent down for life.
Heartbroken Vera Hutch’s powerful victim impact statement was delivered as ruthless assassin Thomas ‘Nicky’ McConnell sat emotionless in the dock at Dublin’s Special Criminal Court.
Minutes after 39-year-old McConnell was taken away, Vera was flanked by her children as she declared they had got justice for her boy.
But she also revealed how Gareth’s son has been left struggling with his dad’s loss.
Emotional Vera said: “Gareth was a good fella, he worked, he didn’t mind anyone.
“He adored his son, the little fella misses him something terrible.
“It won’t bring him back, we got justice for him today.
“I have to thank all the gardai for all the work they put into it, they were very good, it’s all over now.”
McConnell, who was also a person of interest in the murder of Real IRA boss Vincent Ryan, was handed down the mandatory life sentence by Mr Justice Alexander Owens over the callous murder of Gerry ‘The Monk’ Hutch’s nephew in 2016 after he was convicted in December.
The sentencing hearing of McConnell – who had 105 previous convictions – heard how he had fled to Turkey and was extradited on foot of a European Arrest Warrant in July 2020.
He is the fourth person to be convicted of murder in relation to Hutch’s killing, with siblings Jonathan and Regina Keogh along with Thomas ‘Tossy’ Fox already serving life behind bars.
In a victim impact statement delivered in court by Detective Garda Raymond Lee on Vera’s behalf, she told how she had the “privilege” of being Gareth’s mum for over 35 years before he was “senselessly and cruelly” taken from her.
Vera said: “Losing Gareth has caused my heart and all our families’ hearts to be broken, nothing can ever repair the emptiness that his death has caused.
“Losing my child has caused overwhelming grief.
“Since I received the devastating news that my son Gareth was murdered, I have not known a moment’s peace.
“My chest has a constant ache and a pain that never goes away. Sometimes it feels like the world has stopped, as if time itself has become meaningless because Gareth is no longer here. I battle everyday just to keep going.
HEARTBREAKING REQUEST
“The emotional scars left by this senseless and callous crime is something both myself and my family carry with us constantly.”
Vera told how Gareth’s life revolved around his son who he “adored”, but the dreams, plans and future for them was “stolen” in an instant and the boy’s mental health has been impacted.
She said it is heartbreaking as Gareth’s son’s nanny that she has to watch him in grief but can’t help him, adding: “He constantly asks me to bring his daddy back for him.”
Vera’s husband John Hutch – a brother of The Monk – survived a Kinahan cartel assassination attempt by gunman Michael Carroll which was witnessed by her at their home in Drumalee Avenue, Dublin, in September 2016.
‘HEARTBROKEN BEYOND REPAIR’
But he tragically died in an accident in the house three years later.
Describing the impact it had on John, Vera explained: “My husband Johnny, Gareth’s dad who has since passed away, was heartbroken beyond repair. He lost his son and his best friend.”
Vera said that Gareth’s loss is still felt in the community of Dublin’s north inner city and that his murder shattered the “sense of security and peace” there.
Vera added: “This was not the loss of a young life, it was the destruction of a family and a future that can never be reclaimed.”
FEUD TARGET
Hutch was targeted at the height of the feud and had written a letter which he never got to deliver to Dublin City Council requesting to move flats for safety reasons.
He emerged from his flat at Avondale House at 9:53am on the morning of May 24, 2016 and placed a jacket into the backseat of his Volkswagen Passat.
Two hooded men appeared and Hutch never even got to turn around and look at them as he was shot four times – two to the back of his neck, one to his one to his lower back and another to his chest.
McConnell’s trial heard that he and Jonathan Keogh had used an apartment opposite Hutch’s home as a lookout spot.
‘WE ARE ON’
When their target emerged, McConnell said “we are on” before emerging and blasting Hutch to death.
McConnell and Keogh flung their guns – two semi-automatic Makarov 9mm guns of Russian origin and fitted with silencers – away at the scene.
A BMW they had parked there as their getaway car choked out and the two men fled on foot to nearby Champions Avenue where McConnell drove a Skoda Octavia away.
Keogh got out on foot in Summerhill before McConnell burned the car out in Finglas.
DATA LINK
McConnell was convicted after a court relied on phone data linking him to other plotters in the murder, along with CCTV that linked him with cars used and the lies he had told gardai that were indicative of guilt.
McConnell’s gun was found to have the safety catch on and did not fire any rounds during the assassination, with Keogh being the triggerman.
“This was not the loss of a young life, it was the destruction of a family and a future that can never be reclaimed.”
Vera Hutch
However the Special Criminal court found that even if he did that purposely, his other actions in preparation for the shooting highlighted that he was part of a common design with Keogh and others to commit murder and his actions were intended to result in Mr Hutch’s death.
The court established that McConnell had parked the black BMW in front of Avondale House with the intention of using it as the getaway car.
‘INTIMATE KNOWLEDGE’
Inside the gardai found his DNA, a can of petrol and two changes of clothes which the prosecution said shows it was the getaway car.
McConnell told gardai he had sold the BMW to a man who looked similar to himself and Mr Justice Owens found that this “yarn” from him was to hide his role in the killing.
The court relied on other lies and emailed on a phone linked to McConnell which proved he had an “intimate knowledge of the murder”.
Speaking after the sentencing, Detective Superintendent Colm Murphy told how McConnell’s sentence is “another indication” of the gardai’s determination in combating organised and serious crime.
JUSTICE SERVED
The senior officer said: “This is the fourth individual that has been convicted of the murder of Gareth Hutch. Gareth was murdered callously on May 24, 2016 in broad daylight.
“He was murdered that morning while people went about their business in a quiet residential community.
“I want to take this opportunity to thank the community of the north inner city for their support and commitment during the course of the investigation.
“I would also like to thank the many people who gave evidence during the course of this trial and the previous trial.
“I want to express my gratitude to the investigation team who are based at Mountjoy Garda Station for their tireless efforts, commitment, resilience and dedication to duty over the past almost nine years.
“My chest has a constant ache and a pain that never goes away. Sometimes it feels like the world has stopped, as if time itself has become meaningless because Gareth is no longer here. I battle everyday just to keep going.”
Vera Hutch
“I also want to take this opportunity to remember the Hutch family, their loss and the devastation that has caused to them following the murder of Gareth.”
Det Supt Murphy said that beyond this case, many others have been convicted in relation to the feud and added: “I want to reassure the public that we will go to every effort to bring those who are involved in any way, shape or form in committing any of these offences, that they will be brought to justice.”
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