Voters want to move on from criminality, minister says of possible Hutch run

The people of Dublin city centre want to put organised crime behind them, Paschal Donohoe said in response to a rumour that a senior Hutch figure is to run for election.

It was reported by several newspapers at the weekend that Gerry ‘The Monk’ Hutch may run as an election candidate in the Dublin Central constituency.

Last spring, Mr Hutch was found not guilty by the non-jury Special Criminal Court of the murder of David Byrne at the Regency Hotel in February 2016.

Mr Byrne, 33, died after being shot six times at a crowded boxing weigh-in event in one of the first deadly attacks of the Hutch-Kinahan gangland feud.

Ms Justice Tara Burns said Mr Hutch was recognised as the patriarchal figurehead of the Hutch criminal organisation, and the Hutch gang was responsible for the attack.

Asked on Monday whether Mr Hutch would be a good representative for Dublin Central, Taoiseach Simon Harris said: “I think the best possible representative for Dublin Central is Paschal Donohoe.”

Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe, who has served as a TD for Dublin Central since 2011, added: “It’s a matter for whoever wants to be a candidate in Dublin Central to put their name forward.

“But I know when I go to the people of Dublin Central, whenever it will be, I’ll be making the case for law and order and I’ll be making the case for stability and competence in government and I’ll be making the case for the communities of Dublin Central continuing with what they want to do, which is putting organised crime and criminality behind them.”

Tanaiste Micheal Martin said: “I know nothing about that and I am intrigued as to the attention given to it to be frank.

“So I don’t really have a view on it. I doubt if it will materialise.”

It has been reported that Mr Hutch’s planned election bid aims to unseat Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald, who topped the poll in the 2020 general election and gathered almost double the votes required to reach the quota.

The Green Party’s Neasa Hourigan, Mr Donohoe and the Social Democrats’ Gary Gannon took the other three seats in the constituency.

Asked about the suggested election bid, Justice Minister Helen McEntee told RTE Radio’s Drivetime programme: “I think any person can put themselves on the ballot paper, I think anybody would have to be aware of the significant scrutiny in many ways that comes with it, but people are open to put themselves forward.

“Every person has a decision to make and every individual decides and makes that choice themselves and I think people will have to make up their own mind when they see who is on the ballot paper and who is not.”