Melbourne underworld identity Mick Gatto doesn’t so much wear his heart on his sleeve as display his colourful life’s story all over his body.
The 68-year-old mediator and debt collector was spotted recently relaxing by the pool during a family holiday at the five-star beachfront Padma resort in Bali.
More usually seen in well-cut business suits, Gatto was photographed shirtless and wearing draw-string boardshorts as he stepped into the water.
In one poolside picture, Gatto complemented a blue Adidas singlet with $400 Versace sunglasses and a $3,000 Louis Vuitton man bag slung over his shoulder.
Gatto was once a member of Melbourne’s inner-city Carlton Crew along with Alphonse Gangitano, Mario Condello and Graham Kinniburgh, all of whom were killed in the city’s last gangland war.
A picture of Jesus Christ on Gatto’s back surrounded by the words ‘GOD FORGIVES BUT I DON’T FORGET’ was among the many tattoos that drew the attention of other travellers.
Melbourne underworld figure Mick Gatto was recently spotted relaxing by the pool during a family holiday at the five-star beachside Padma resort in Bali. Clearly on display were the names of the 68-year-old’s children Damien, Sarah and Justin tattooed on his stomach
A picture of Jesus Christ on Gatto’s back surrounded by the words ‘GOD FORGIVES BUT I DON’T FORGET’ was among the many tattoos that drew the attention of other tourists
One Australian tourist who immediately identified Gatto said he was staying at the Legian retreat with his wife of 45 years, Cheryle, their son Damien, his wife Fiona and their daughter.
‘They all seemed very relaxed,’ he said. ‘They kept pretty much to themselves.’
Padma’s Garden Club Chalet, spread across almost eight hectares of manicured gardens, is recommended for a group of Gatto’s size, and can be booked for $1,994 a night.
Gatto gained nationwide 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 in the show as his murdered mate Kinniburgh.
Among Gatto’s prominent tattoos is a portrait of Kinniburgh on his right calf, below ‘Graham’ and above the major organised crime figure’s nickname ‘The Munster’.
Kinniburgh was gunned down outside his Kew home 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 slayings after he shot dead hitman Andrew ‘Benji’ Veniamin in the Carlton restaurant La Porchella in March 2004.
Police alleged Gatto had set a trap for Veniamin, who at one time was a suspect in Kinniburgh’s execution, but he claimed self defence and was acquitted of murder.
Gatto, pictured with wife Cheryle, complemented a blue Adidas singlet with $400 Versace sunglasses, a $3,000 Louis Vuitton bag and leather sandals. A tattoo commemorating his murdered mate 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 picture of his late friend and fellow ‘Carlton Crew’ member Ronald Bongetti
Gatto was represented by prominent barrister Robert Richter KC during his trial and has the lawyer’s name tattooed above his right breast, near the words ‘NOT GUILTY’.
Richter also secured the overturning of a conviction against Gatto’s associate Faruk Orman after he had served 12 years for the 2002 murder of drug trafficker Victor Peirce.
Gatto has Orman’s name tattooed near Richter’s, as well as a tribute to Steve ‘The Turk’ Kaya who was also at La Porchella when Veniamin was killed.
On a calf, Gatto has a picture of his late friend and fellow Carlton Crew member Ronald Bongetti with the words ‘RIP Ronny’.
The names of Gatto’s one-time business partner Matt Tomas and wife Cheryle appear elsewhere on his body.
Gatto’s children are literally never far from his heart, with the names of sons Justin and Damien and daughter Sarah inked on the right side of his belly.
Justin died after falling from a Melbourne CBD apartment balcony in October 2018 shortly after returning from a holiday in Bali. He was 34 and had been suffering personal problems.
Gatto, who was acquitted of murdering hitman Andrew ‘Benji’ Veniamin in a Carlton restaurant in March 2004, is usually seen wearing a well-cut suit and tie. He is pictured outside court
Gatto’s grandchildren Ebony, Jesse, Dominic, Mila, Oscar, Isla and Isaac are featured on his chest and stomach.
A video posted on Facebook shows Gatto getting Isaac’s name etched into his skin as he says, ‘I’m a sucker for punishment’.
Gatto has for decades worked as a mediator in the Victorian building industry and had a stint promoting fights before his Professional Boxing and Combat Sports Board licence was revoked.
That accreditation was taken away in 2013 under state legislation the former professional heavyweight boxer once dubbed ‘Mick Gatto’s Law’.
‘I thought Australia, being a democratic country, that they give people a fair go and let them move on but that’s not the case,’ Gatto told broadcaster Neil Mitchell.
Two years ago Gatto denied in a newspaper interview he had never been a cold-blooded killer and said he was not involved in any unsolved crimes.
‘I’m not a hitman,’ he told the Herald-Sun.
Among Mick Gatto’s tattoos is the name of barrister Robert Richter, who secured his acquittal for the murder of hitman Andrew ‘Benji’ Veniamin, above his right breast, and ‘NOT GUILTY’ in the centre of his chest
Gatto said he was living a quiet life at Mount Martha on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula and wished to leave his notorious past behind.
‘It’s created havoc for me,’ Gatto said of his reputation. ‘I can’t go anywhere without being stopped for an autograph or a photo.
‘I’ve got children in the corporate world who can’t run their businesses because of me, because of my notoriety.’
Gatto and Cheryle have launched a charity called Equal Access for Autism to raise funds for children with the condition, of which their grandson Dominic is one.
Embattled neurosurgeon Dr Charlie Teo attended a gala charity fundraising dinner for the organisation in April.
Actor Vince Colosimo, who played Gangitano in Underbelly, was also at the event along with former Mongols bikie boss Toby Mitchell and host Richard Wilkins.
Last year, Gatto said he would not stand in the way of a proposed television series about his life being developed by Underbelly: The Golden Mile actor Steve Bastoni.
‘I haven’t guided him in any way,’ Gatto said. ‘[Bastoni] can do whatever he wants, then show me the script… and if there’s no issue, they can do what they like.’