Man charged with having handgun prior to Gareth Hutch murder

A 29-year-old man has been refused bail after being charged with unlawful possession of a handgun in connection with last week's gang murder of Gareth Hutch in Dublin.

Father-of-one Gareth Hutch (35), a nephew of Gerry 'the Monk' Hutch, was shot dead as he was getting into his car outside Avondale House flats,where he lived, on North Cumberland Street in inner city Dublin, on the morning of May 24.

Thomas Fox was brought to appear before Judge Anthony Halpin at Dublin District Court on Wednesday morning.

He is charged with unlawful possession of of a Makarov 9mm handgun at Avondale House on May 23rd, a day before the shooting.

Refusing bail Judge Anthony Halpin said the man “stands before this court charged with a most serious offence and it is linked to the abominable and cold-blooded feud between two gangland families, the ferocity and viciousness has increased exponentially.”

“You would have to be living on Mars to escape the daily reportage of the war raging between these two families and the mounting victims, the products of their business”.

Mr Fox who has an address at Rutland Court, in north inner city Dublin,**had been originally arrested on May 24th, the day of the shooting, after he presented himself for questioning.

The murder of Gareth Hutch was the latest and seventh fatality linked to a feud between the Kinahan and Hutch gangs.

Det Sergeant Robert O’Reilly told thejudge that Mr Fox replied: “I have nothing to say” when the charge was put to him on Monday evening.

Objecting to bail, Garda Chief Supt Pat Leahy of Store Street station cited the seriousness of the charge, the possible sentence it carries and he said “it is anticipated further more serious charges will be proferred”

Defence solicitor Yvonne Bambury said her client was seeking bail. She said Mr Fox had lived in the area all his life, his partner was due to have a child in the near future and she argued that his actions were not consistent with those of a man who did not intend to stand trial.

Dressed in black and red jacket, yellow stop, green runners and navy trousers, Mr Fox did not address the court. The court heard he was not working and legal aid was granted.

The judge remanded him in custody to appear via video-link at Cloverhill District Court on June 8th.