With speculation rife that a general election could be called this week, Dublin Central may have a new independent candidate on the polling card. Gerry The Monk Hutch is believed to be considering running in his home constituency against the likes of Sinn Fein's Mary Lou McDonald and Minister for Public Expenditure Paschal Donohoe.
According to newspaper reports today, the 61 year old, who moved to Lanzarote 12 years ago, kept his Irish citizenship so it eligible to run. However there are things to consider first, including his own personal safety after he was issued with a Garda Information message in 2016 that there was a threat to his life. This threat remains active.
Potential Campaign
A source told the Sunday Independent that he has already earmarked a potential campaign team and will have headquarters at Corinthian's Boxing Club in Summerhill. It's also been reported that if he's elected, Gerry Hutch has told friends he will have no issue declaring his assets.
A History of the North Inner City
Hutch, who was acquitted of the murder of David Byrne last year at the Special Criminal Court, has enjoyed huge popularity around the north inner city where he grew up and where members of his family still live. He recently attended the homecoming of Olympian Kellie Harrington where he was treated like a local celebrity.
Hutch has long championed his old neighbourhood. He was a huge supporter of the late Tony Gregory TD and purchased the Corinthians Boxing Club near Buckingham Street, renting it to the club for €1 per year on a 99-year lease after its premises burnt down. At one point he became a treasurer at the club where boxers like Harrington trained.
Hutch hasn’t been convicted of a criminal offence since the 1980s, but is suspected of masterminding two significant armed robberies. He settled a tax bill of more than €3m with the Criminal Assets Bureau in the late 1990s and moved to Lanzarote in 2012 after a stint as a celebrity limo driver.
The Monk's Troublesome Past
In 2015 he came out of retirement to broker a peace deal between his nephew Gary Hutch and his one-time best pal Daniel Kinahan, who had fallen out in Spain. The Monk mediated a meeting and helped organise a compensation pay out to Kinahan which was to spare Gary’s life. However, after the money was paid Gary Hutch was murdered and on New Year’s Eve, Kinahan sent hitmen to Lanzarote to kill The Monk.
The Hutch Organised Crime Group hit back with two attempts to kill Daniel Kinahan, at boxing weigh-ins at the Red Cow and later The Regency Hotel. What followed was a shocking wipeout of The Monk’s family and friends; first his brother Eddie, then his nephew Gareth followed his old pal Noel ‘Kingsize’ Duggan.
There were serious attempted hits on his brothers Johnny and Patsy, his nephew Jonathan and later the murder of another nephew, Derek Coakley Hutch, and his pal Noel ‘Duck Egg’ Kirwan. The State claimed that Gerry Hutch was the gunman who shot dead David Byrne after Kinahan fled The Regency but he was found not guilty. During his trial, evidence was given in relation to the existence of the Hutch Organised Crime Group which was described as ‘familial’ and ‘patriarchal’. No evidence was given regarding what type of crime the group was involved in, although sources say it is funded through drug dealing and robbery. Evidence around his dealings with dissident groups in Northern Ireland and his links to old school Provos was also heard during the high-profile trial.
Monk's Mission
While The Monk’s mind is not yet made up and he is still in consultation with his family about the pros and cons of running for election, he has said he’d like to run on a mission to improve the north inner city area. “He has been asked a number of times over the years to go up for local or general election,” a source said. “He is very seriously considering it this time.” Sources say Hutch has considered any obstacles that could hinder him entering the race for the Dail, including his own security concerns. He was issued with a Garda Information Message in 2016 of a threat to life – which remains active – but he lives quite openly in Dublin when he is home from Lanzarote. Hutch moved to the Canary Island full time 12 years ago but has retained Irish citizenship which makes him eligible to run for the Dail. He has told pals he would have no problem declaring his assets should he be elected.
A Potential Political Upset
It remains to be seen if Gerry Hutch will ultimately decide to run for office. If he does, he could be a formidable force in the Dublin Central constituency. He has a strong name recognition and is well-liked in his home area. He also has a clear platform: he wants to improve the north inner city. Whether or not he can convince voters to give him a chance, however, is another question entirely.
