Many people were surprised by the verdict because Hutch was suspected of being the family’s leader and orchestrating the murderous attack, which is said to have been one of the earliest attacks in the Hutch-Kinahan gangland conflict in Ireland.
During the trial, it was revealed that there was “a reasonable possibility” that the Regency shoot was arranged by Hutch’s brother, Patsy Hutch, and that Gerry Hutch had “stepped in” as family head.