He's got Hutch a long journey ahead..

Hutch plans to vanish off radar as he heads to Spain to access millions | Cleared criminal will zig-zag' across Europe to avoid a Kinahan bullet...

- JOHN HAND

CRIMINAL mastermind Gerry Hutch will "go dark" as he zig-zags across Eastern Europe ahead of landing in Spain to manage his €10million assets - before fleeing once more, senior sources predict.

The Monk is set to take every measure to "avoid a bullet" as he's expected to leave his plush home in The Paddocks in Clontarf, Dublin, over the coming days and depart the country.

The 60-year-old has been a free man since Monday afternoon after he was acquitted of the murder of Kinahan lieutenant David Byrne at the Regency Hotel in 2016.

Still at the top of the Kinahan cartel's hit list, Hutch is expected to make every attempt to avoid any attention, just over a year-and-a-half on from being among the most wanted men from around the world.

Senior sources have told how he must head to Spain to access his money and manage his portfolio.

But gardai believe that he will not go directly to Spain, but will instead "go dark", travelling across Eastern Europe including Romania and Bulgaria - for three months to six months.

At times, it is suspected that he will double back on himself before he ever makes it to Spain.

Investigators also anticipate he'll use burner phones and only stay in a location for a short period of time before moving on again. One source explained: "The fact is, Hutch has to get to Spain. That's where he can access his wealth.