Nephew of Gerry Hutch has public intoxication case discharged under probation act

Fionnuala Walsh

A nephew of Gerard “The Monk” Hutch has had his conviction for being intoxicated in public and acting “extremely aggressive” with gardaí discharged under the probation act on appeal.

The District Court Appeals Court heard that Nathan Hutch (32) said obscenities to gardaí while intoxicated in Dublin city centre.

Hutch, with an address at Buckingham Street Upper, Dublin 1, had pleaded guilty in the District Court to intoxication in a public place contrary to section 4 of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act, 1994.

He also faced a charge of threatening, abusive, or insulting behaviour in a public place contrary to section 6 of the same act.

Nathan Hutch was convicted and sentenced to two months consecutive to another 18-month sentence he received for a separate matter. He later lodged an appeal against the severity of his sentence.

Sergeant Lee Kelly told the District Court Appeals Court on Thursday that at 10:10am on May 9th last, gardaí responded to an incident near Talbot Street in Dublin city centre.

He said that they observed a man running away from gardaí and pursued him. Sgt Kelly said that the man told them he had taken cocaine and sleeping tablets.

Sgt Kelly said that Hutch was “extremely aggressive” and said obscenities to gardaí.

He said that Hutch has 104 previous convictions, with the majority of those for road traffic matters. He said that Hutch is currently serving a sentence for another matter.

Defence solicitor for Hutch, Andrew Molony, said that his client has “excellent family support”.

He said Hutch is a young man who has suffered “every challenge” in life including the “heinous” murder of his brother in 2018.

Mr Molony said that his client had been diagnosed with severe trauma and anxiety. He said he has made huge efforts to deal with this, despite having a “few blips”, and that he has undertaken a treatment program to deal with his issues.

Mr Molony said that continued treatment is the “only way” for Hutch to make progress and asked the judge to consider applying a probation bond in this case, so that his client can engage with counselling for trauma and addiction.

Judge Deirdre Browne decided to discharge Hutch under Section 1(1)(ii) of the Probation of Offenders Act, 1907 under the conditions that he must keep the peace and be of good behaviour for the period of three years.

She ordered that he must enter the supervision of the probation services for 12 months after his release from custody and abide by any instructions given by them.

Judge Browne said that if there is any breach, Hutch must turn up for conviction and sentence.