Courts / Dublin / Report

Gareth Hutch's murder 'a callous crime with no thought given for life', mother tells court

Date
2025-01-27

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

During a sentencing hearing at the Special Criminal Court, Vera Hutch, mother of Gareth Hutch, recounted the impact of her son's murder in an ambush outside his home on 24 May 2016. She described the loss as "senseless and cruel", noting the profound grief and ongoing pain that has altered her family's life. The court had earlier found Thomas 'Nicky' McConnell guilty of the murder, sentencing him to a mandatory life term backdated to 20 July 2020, when he was extradited from Turkey. McConnell was identified as the second gunman in the attack, alongside Jonathan Keogh, who shot Gareth. The court relied on mobile‑phone data, CCTV footage and other evidence to establish McConnell's role, despite his gun's safety catch being on. The hearing highlighted the enduring emotional scars left by the crime and the family's plea for justice.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Gareth Hutch's murder 'a callous crime with no thought given for life', mother tells court. Charges or matters: the murder of Gareth Hutch (36) on May 24, 2016 at Avondale House, North Cumberland Street, Dublin 1. Procedural stage: sentence. Findings: Convicted

When:

May 2016 Hearing Or Sentence
July 20 2020 Hearing Or Sentence
May 24, 2016 Hearing Or Sentence
January 2001 Incident
August 2011 Incident
July 20, 2020 Incident
November 2018 Hearing Or Sentence
June 2023 Hearing Or Sentence
May 24 2016 Other
2025-01-27 Publication

Why: Sometimes it feels like the world has stopped, as if time itself has become meaningless because Gareth is no longer here. CNI source report

Case subjects

Nicky' McConnell

Background Person

Charges: the murder of Gareth Hutch (36) on May 24, 2016 at Avondale House, North Cumberland Street, Dublin 1 (Proven)

Plea: Not guilty

Finding: Convicted

Outcome: Convicted; Having heard the victim impact statement from Mrs Hutch, presiding judge Mr Justice Alexander Owens sentenced Thomas 'Nicky' McConnell to the mandatory term of life imprisonment, backdating it to July 20 2020, when he was taken into custody by Turkish authorities and extradited back to Ireland.