'Hutch gang started the war' investigators say on 10th anniversary of Regency shooting
The Hutch gang is responsible for Ireland's bloodiest gang war - and not their enemies in the Kinahan cartel, investigators insist."The Hutch gang started the whole thing, people need to remember that," a source told us. "This has always been about a battle for control of the drugs trade."10 years on from the daring and deadly attack on Dublin's Regency Airport Hotel, sources say the feud erupted because members of the Hutch outfit wanted to take over the Kinahan cartel - and run the drugs business themselves. "There would not have been a feud if the Hutch gang had not decided it wanted a bigger slice of the action," a source tells us."The Kinahans of course reacted with fury and violence to the Regency, but there is no doubt they did not start this war. It did not start at the Regency." A decade on from the Regency, whose anniversary falls on Thursday, sources tell us gardai accept that was not the catalyst for the bloody feud - merely another chapter in the war.They say officers believe the feud actually started in August 2014 - when the Hutch mob tried to murder Daniel Kinahan, 48, at his villa in southern Spain. Kinahan was a close friend of criminal Gary Hutch at the time and underworld and law enforcement sources tell us they believe the Dubliner masterminded the botched hit.Gary Hutch was a key member of Kinahan's inner sanctum at the time - but several of his closest allies were also part of the drugs cartel, which is Ireland's biggest gang. Officers believe Hutch turned against his friend Kinahan in early 2014 - and decided to have him killed.He got a close associate to mount a murder bid on Kinahan at his villa near Marbella in southern Spain in August 2014 - but it ended in failure. The gunman hid outside the villa and shot a man who got out of a taxi close to the front door.But that man turned out to be the totally innocent English boxer Jamie Moore, who was shot in the leg. Intended target Kinahan had earlier entered the villa via a side entrance and the would-be killer missed him.Investigators believe Gary Hutch organised the hit because he believed he could deliver a double whammy against his pal. He wanted to steal some €4.5 million in cash that he believed Kinahan kept in the villa - but he had an even bigger reason for ordering the murder, sources say."He got (an associate) to carry out the murder in reality because he wanted to lead the cartel himself," an insider told us. "He and some of his closest allies were heavily involved in the cartel and some even had strong business interests with the Kinahan side."The Hutch gang were central to the Kinahans, they were the same gang. But Gary got greedy and thought he saw an opportunity to make real money."He essentially tried to mount a coup by killing Daniel and taking over himself. He knew there was massive money to be made and wanted it all."But the failed hit on Kinahan proved disastrous - in Spain and Ireland. Within a few days, Kinahan's investigators had copperfastened their suspicion that Gary, 34, was responsible for the hit - and he had to flee the country.The Kinahans later struck a deal that saw the Hutches pay him some €200,000. And a Dublin court heard in 2023 that Gary's brother Patrick, 34, was shot in the leg by Kinahan in the city a few weeks after the Spain murder bid. Patrick has never been arrested or charged over the Spain shooting.The Hutches thought that was the end of the conflict and Gary returned to Spain in mid 2015. But the Kinahans then reneged on the pact and shot Gary dead in Estepona in September.The Hutch gang then tried to kill Daniel in west Dublin in November of that year. And just over a month later, the Kinahans tried to kill Gerry 'the Monk' Hutch in Lanzarote on New Year's.The Hutch gang then feared the Kinahans were about to wipe them out and hit back - by launching the infamous attack on Dublin's Regency Airport Hotel on February 5, 2016. That was an attempt to murder Daniel and some of his key allies - but they missed their top target.Instead they killed pal David Byrne, 34. That enraged the Kinahans - who went on a merciless murder spree in the weeks and months that followed.The feud convulsed the nation and left at least 18 men dead - many completely innocent. Gardai are expected to make a statement on the Regency ahead of Thursday's anniversary.It is regarded as one of the most important events in Irish gangland history, and the investigation saw the Monk, 62, extradited from Spain and go on trial for Byrne's murder in the Special Criminal Court in late 2022. He denied the murder and the non-jury court acquitted him of the charge in April 2023.Five years earlier, his nephew Patrick had another charge of murdering Byrne dropped against him in the same court. He also denied the charge.No-one has ever been convicted of being part of the six strong gang - including a getaway driver, three fake ERU officers and two men, one of whom was dressed as a woman - who took part in the daylight murder. Gardai say the case is still open.Join our Dublin Live breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive your daily dose of Dublin Live content.We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.For all the latest news from Dublin and surrounding areas visit our homepage.
