Gardaí warn Hutch extended family that lives could be in danger

Hutch family members, many of whom have no involvement with criminal activity, have been warned their lives are in danger because of their name, sources in the north inner city have said.

Independent Dublin city councillor Nial Ring – who had been assisting Gareth Hutch with a request to move from his council flat before his murder on Tuesday – said he was approached that night by another member of the family who had been warned of a threat to his life.

There are believed to be well over 100 extended members of the family in the area and even those with no links to criminal activity are in fear of their personal safety as the feud with the Spain-based Kinahan cartel continues.

“I had a chap come up to me [on Tuesday] evening and say I want to talk to you in the morning. He said I have been told by the guards that I could be a target and that was purely because of his name,” Mr Ring said. “A lot of people have been warned.”

Considering moving

Marie Metcalfe

, co-ordinator of the Community Policing Forum in the inner city, said concerned members of the family had been considering moving as the number of murders increases.

“If you are associated with [the Hutch family] you are in danger. It’s a danger to have that name and even if you haven’t got the name but your mammy has it, you are a target,” she said, stressing many have no involvement in crime.

Before being shot dead on Tuesday, Gareth Hutch had approached Mr Ring to help him secure alternative accommodation in the same flats complex.

“He was trying to get a decision [from the council] to move out of the particular flat he was in,” Mr Ring said. “He felt it was dangerous to him and his son because it was not covered by CCTV.”

He said people were concerned not only for who might be targeted next but, given the very public nature of the assassinations, where it might happen.

Mr Ring said: “People are thinking nowhere is safe. It could be the local supermarket and people generally feel there is more of this to come and are they going to be caught up in it.”

Much of the fear is due to the small area in which the violence has been carried out - a small area of the north inner city bordered by Parnell Street, the North Strand and Ballybough Road.