Gerard Hutch Narrowly Misses Dublin Parliament Seat Amid Controversy
DUBLIN, Dec 2 – Gerard Hutch, widely known as “The Monk” and alleged leader of a prominent Irish crime family, narrowly missed securing a seat in Ireland’s Parliament on Dec 1, finishing fifth in the four-seat Dublin Central constituency.
Hutch, whose candidacy sparked significant public interest, was edged out by Labour Party’s Marie Sherlock after a late surge in votes. Hutch had been seen as a strong contender earlier in the day.
The 60-year-old garnered attention due to his past, including his alleged role as head of the Hutch Organised Crime Group, a connection cited in a 2023 Irish court case. Arrested in Spain during a money laundering investigation, he was released on bail in November, according to state broadcaster RTE.
Hutch campaigned on representing the deprived inner-city community where he grew up, gaining support from residents frustrated with long-standing issues such as housing shortages and inadequate healthcare access.
Gary Gannon, another successful candidate, described Hutch’s strong showing as a “protest vote” reflecting discontent in marginalized areas.
Film director Jim Sheridan, who is producing a documentary about Hutch, attributed his support to widespread anger over “years of neglect and drug problems” in the community.
Hutch’s public profile has long been controversial. Though identified as the head of the Hutch family by an Irish court in 2023, he was acquitted of involvement in the 2016 Dublin hotel murder that ignited a gang war with the Kinahan crime group. The conflict claimed 18 lives and drew international attention, with the U.S. State Department offering a $5 million reward for information on Kinahan leaders.
When asked about running again in future elections, Hutch told reporters, “We’ll consider it.”