Tánaiste did not expect to see Gerry ‘The Monk’ Hutch running for government

The Tánaiste has said he does not expect to see Gerry ‘The Monk’ Hutch at the next general election.

During the weekend, the Irish Independent reported that the convicted criminal is seriously considering running as an independent candidate in Dublin’s north city centre.

The paper said the 61-year-old manwhich was last year acquitted of the murder of David Byrne attack on the Regency Hotel, he had discussed the idea with friends, family and “influential figures in the community”.

He said he had identified a potential campaign team and earmarked Corinthians Boxing Club in Summerhill as their headquarters should they decide to run.

Gerry ‘The Monk’ Hutch is considering standing in the general election.
Reports emerged over the weekend, but Tánaiste Micheál Martin “doubts his candidacy will materialize”. pic.twitter.com/e8fdxych63

— NewstalkFM (@NewstalkFM) October 21, 2024

Speaking in Cork this morning, Tánaiste Micheál Martin poured cold water on the reports.

“I don’t know anything about it and I’m intrigued by the attention it’s getting, to be honest,” he said.

“So I don’t really have a vision for it and I doubt it will materialize.”

From left to right, Mayor of Dublin James Geoghegan, Taoiseach Simon Harris, Green Party Leader Roderic O’Gorman, Minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien, Minister for Public Expenditure Paschal Donohoe and Chair of Dublin City Task Force David McREdmond 21-10-2024. Image: Alex Rowley/Newstalk

Should he decide to run for office, Hutch would likely face Minister for Public Expenditure Paschal Donohoe in the Dublin Central constituency.

Speaking at the launch of the Dublin taskforce report at the GPO this morning, Minister Donohoe said his community wanted to “put organized crime and criminality behind”.

“It’s a matter of whoever wants to be a candidate in Dublin Central putting their name forward, but I know that when I go to the people of Dublin Central, whenever that’s the case, I’ll make the case for law and order.” he said

“I will advocate for stability and competition in government and advocate for the communities of Central Dublin to get on with what they want to do, which is to put organized crime and criminality behind them.”

Armed police on duty outside the Special Criminal Court in Dublin for the trial of Gerry “The Monk” Hutch, 18-10-2022. Image: PA Images / Alamy

Growing up in inner-city Dublin, Hutch received a series of criminal convictions between the early 1970s and 1983, spending time in prison on several occasions.

The Criminal Heritage Office opened proceedings against him in 1999 and during the proceedings gardaí said he was suspected of being involved in two major armed robberies.

He denied involvement in serious crime and eventually reached an IR£1.2m settlement with the state body.

Despite its history, Hutch is very popular in central Dublin – and the Irish Independent The report states that people in the community have encouraged him to stand up.

He points out that this is not the first time he is considering a change in politics, saying that he was considered as a potential candidate in the previous election.

Additional reporting by Jamie O’Hara, Alex Rowley and Barry Whyte.