Melbourne underworld identity Mick Gatto shows off his tattoos at luxury Bali resort
Melbourne’s underworld identity Mick Gatto doesn’t so much wear his heart on his sleeve as it shows his colorful life story all over his body.
The 68-year-old mediator and debt collector was recently seen relaxing poolside on a family holiday at the five-star beachfront resort of Padma in Bali.
Gatto, who is more commonly seen in well-cut business suits, was photographed shirtless and wearing a pair of drawstring board shorts as he stepped into the water.
In a poolside photo, Gatto complemented a blue Adidas singlet with $400 Versace sunglasses and a $3,000 Louis Vuitton men’s bag slung over his shoulder.
Gatto was once a member of the inner-city Melbourne Carlton Crew along with Alphonse Gangitano, Mario Condello and Graham Kinniburgh, all of whom perished in the city’s final gangland war.
A picture of Jesus Christ on Gatto’s back surrounded by the words “GOD FORGIVE BUT I DO NOT FORGET” was one of many tattoos that caught the attention of other travelers.
Mick Gatto, a Melbourne underworld figure, was recently spotted relaxing by the pool on a family vacation at Bali’s five-star beach resort of Padma. Clearly visible were the names of 68-year-old children Damien, Sarah and Justin tattooed on his stomach
A picture of Jesus Christ on Gatto’s back surrounded by the words “GOD FORGIVE BUT I DO NOT FORGET” was one of many tattoos that caught the attention of other tourists
An Australian tourist who immediately identified Gatto said he was staying at the Legian retreat with his wife of 45, Cheryle, their son Damien, his wife Fiona and their daughter.
“They all seemed very relaxed,” he said. “They kept pretty much to themselves.”
Spread over nearly eight acres of manicured gardens, Padma’s Garden Club Chalet is recommended for a group the size of Gatto and can be booked for $1,994 per night.
Gatto rose to national fame in 2008 when he was played by Simon Westaway in the first season of the Network Nine television crime drama Underbelly. Veteran actor Gerard Kennedy appeared on the show as his murdered partner Kinniburgh.
Among Gatto’s prominent tattoos is a portrait of Kinniburgh on his right calf, below “Graham” and above the nickname “The Munster” of the major organized crime figure.
Kinniburgh was gunned down outside his home in Kew in December 2003 during the Melbourne gangland war that ran from 1998 to 2010 and claimed 36 lives.
Gatto was charged with one of those murders after he shot and killed hitman Andrew ‘Benji’ Veniamin at the Carlton restaurant La Porchella in March 2004.
Police claimed Gatto set a trap for Veniamin, who was once a suspect in Kinniburgh’s execution, but he claimed self-defense and was cleared of murder.
Gatto, pictured with his wife Cheryle, complemented a blue Adidas singlet with $400 Versace sunglasses, a $3,000 Louis Vuitton purse and leather sandals. A tattoo commemorating his murdered partner Graham ‘The Munster’ Kinniburgh was visible on Gatto’s right calf
Gatto has a portrait of his murdered mate Graham ‘The Munster’ Kinniburgh on his right calf. He also has a photo of his late friend and fellow Carlton Crew member Ronald Bongetti
Gatto was represented at his trial by prominent attorney Robert Richter KC and has the attorney’s name tattooed above his right chest, near the words “NOT GUILTY.”
Richter also overturned a conviction against Gatto’s associate Faruk Orman after serving 12 years for the 2002 murder of drug trafficker Victor Peirce.
Gatto tattooed Orman’s name near Richter’s, as well as a tribute to Steve ‘The Turk’ Kaya who was also in La Porchella when Veniamin was killed.
On a calf, Gatto has a photo of his late friend and fellow Carlton Crew member Ronald Bongetti with the words “RIP Ronny.”
The names of Gatto’s former business partner Matt Tomas and his wife Cheryle appear elsewhere on his body.
Gatto’s kids are literally never far from his heart, with the names of sons Justin and Damien and daughter Sarah on the right side of his stomach.
Justin died after falling from the balcony of a Melbourne CBD apartment in October 2018, shortly after returning from a holiday in Bali. He was 34 and struggling with personal problems.
Gatto, who was acquitted of the murder of hit man Andrew ‘Benji’ Veniamin at a Carlton restaurant in March 2004, is usually seen in a well-tailored suit and tie. He is pictured out of court
Gatto’s grandchildren Ebony, Jesse, Dominic, Mila, Oscar, Isla and Isaac stand on his chest and stomach.
A video on Facebook shows Gatto getting Isaac’s name engraved into his skin as he says, “I love punishment.”
Gatto worked for decades as a broker in the Victorian construction industry and had a fight promotion for a while before his Professional Boxing and Combat Sports Board license was revoked.
That accreditation was revoked in 2013 under state law that once dubbed the former professional heavyweight boxer “Mick Gatto’s Law.”
“I thought that because Australia is a democratic country, it gives people a fair chance and lets them move on, but that’s not the case,” Gatto told broadcaster Neil Mitchell.
Two years ago, Gatto denied in a newspaper interview that he had never been a cold-blooded killer and said he was not involved in any unsolved crimes.
“I’m not an assassin,” he told the Herald-Sun.
Mick Gatto’s tattoos include the name of attorney Robert Richter, who secured his acquittal for the murder of hit man Andrew ‘Benji’ Veniamin, above his right chest, and “NOT GUILTY” in the center of his chest.
Gatto said he lived a quiet life on Mount Martha on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula and wanted to put his infamous past behind him.
“It’s wreaked havoc on me,” Gatto said of his reputation. “I can’t go anywhere without being stopped for an autograph or a photo.
“I have kids in business who can’t run their businesses because of me, because of my fame.”
Gatto and Cheryle have set up a charity called Equal Access for Autism to raise money for children with the condition, one of which is their grandson Dominic.
Controversial neurosurgeon Dr. Charlie Teo attended a gala dinner for a charitable organization back in April.
Actor Vince Colosimo, who played Gangitano in Underbelly, was also at the event, along with former Mongols bike boss Toby Mitchell and host Richard Wilkins.
Last year, Gatto said he wouldn’t stand in the way of a proposed television series about his life being developed by Underbelly: The Golden Mile actor Steve Bastoni.
“I didn’t guide him in any way,” Gatto said. “(Bastoni) can do whatever he wants, show me the script… and if there’s no problem, they can do whatever they want.”