EDDIE HUTCH SENIOR, brother of Gerry ‘The Monk’ Hutch, was shot dead in Dublin this evening.
The shooting took place at 7.45pm on Poplar Row in the North Strand, Dublin 3.
Up to four gunmen entered the victim’s home, shot their target and fled in a getaway car.
A car has since been found at St.Patrick’s Parade in Drumcondra and the area has been closed off.
Emergency services attended the scene in the inner city. There were at least seven garda cars and up to two dozen gardaí surrounding a sealed-off apartment shortly after the incident took place.
A number of women went to a local pub to tell the victim’s ex-wife what had happened. Some were in tears as they described a ‘quiet man’.
Eddie Hutch, known to gardaí but only for minor crimes in the past, was an uncle of Gary Hutch who was shot dead in Spain last September.
His assassination is being blamed for kicking off the current wave of trouble.
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TheJournal.ie understands that tonight’s shooting is a retaliation for Friday’s attack at the Regency Hotel.
Over the weekend, there were clear signs of a major fallout among Dublin’s criminal underworld.
Sources indicated that tensions were already running high before the death of David Byrne, an associate of the Kinahan crime gang, due to the Hutch killing in Spain.
Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald issued a statement to confirm she will be meeting the garda commissioner and her senior officers tomorrow.
“Tonight’s fatal shooting in Dublin is another deplorable example of the ruthlessness of gangland criminals,” she said.
It seems that some gangs are intent on waging a feud where human life counts for nothing.
She said that gardaí will take “all necessary steps to prevent further bloodshed” but conceded they face serious challenges.
In a frank messages, Fitzgerald asked members of gangs who have fears about their own safety to come forward to authorities.
Gerry Adams, leader of Sinn Féin, also condemned tonight’s shooting, saying it brings “further fear and intimidation to the streets”.
“Those behind this latest shooting, and those behind the dreadful attack last Friday at the Regency Hotel, must be apprehended and taken off our streets,” he added. “The gardaí need the fullest possible support from the community in their efforts to do this.”
With reporting by Rónán Duffy
First published 8.23pm
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