Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch, the alleged leader of the infamous Hutch criminal organisation, is set to make another dramatic foray into politics. The 62-year-old is reported to be 100% certain to stand as an independent candidate in the upcoming Dublin Central by-election.
From Criminal Past to Political Ambition
The by-election was triggered after the sitting TD and former Finance Minister, Paschal Donohoe of the Fine Gael party, resigned from his role as one of the area's four representatives. Donohoe is departing to take up a position at the World Bank, creating a vacancy in the constituency where Hutch grew up and received his first criminal conviction at the age of just eight.
A source close to the matter told the Sunday Independent, 'The decision's been made, it's a done deal. He will run. People in the community of Dublin Central have been urging him to do so since the news emerged about Paschal Donohoe's departure.' The source added wryly, 'We will now watch as a former well-known suspected bank robber tries to take his seat.'
A History of Narrow Misses and Notoriety
This is not Hutch's first attempt at securing a seat in office. In a previous election, he came remarkably close to winning a place in the country's parliament. His campaign featured provocative posters that billed him as 'The only man that can't be paid off, just like Trump'.
Initially, it seemed Hutch was on course to gain the final seat after Sinn Féin's Mary Lou McDonald was declared an early winner. However, in a surprising turn of events, the seat was ultimately won by the Labour Party's Marie Sherlock, with 6,102 votes to Hutch's 5,321.
Hutch, nicknamed 'The Monk' due to his abstinence from alcohol and drugs, was named in a 2023 court case as the head of the Hutch gang, an allegation he has consistently denied. His criminal history includes being a prime suspect in major robberies, such as the IR£1.7 million Securicor van heist in 1987 and the IR£3 million Brinks Allied robbery in 1995, though he was never convicted for these crimes. He was arrested and questioned about them in 2008 but denied any involvement.
A Life Marred by Feud and Violence
The Hutch gang has been locked in a deadly feud with the rival Kinahan clan since 2015, following the murder of Hutch's nephew, Gary, in Spain. This conflict has seen numerous retaliatory killings, and Hutch himself is believed to have survived two assassination attempts.
In a significant legal development, Hutch was the subject of a European Arrest Warrant. He was arrested in Spain in August 2021 and extradited to Ireland to face a charge of murder in connection with the killing of Kinahan associate Daniel Byrne at a boxing match in 2016. However, in 2023, he was found not guilty of this charge.
As the Dublin Central by-election approaches, the prospect of one of Ireland's most notorious figures vying for a political position ensures a campaign that will be watched with intense scrutiny and controversy.
