Gerry Hutch among officially listed candidates for Dublin Central

By Cillian Sherlock, Press Association

Gerry “The Monk” Hutch has been registered to stand in the Dublin Central by-election, according to the website for the constituency’s returning officer.

The Dubliner, aged in his 60s, has been described in court by a judge as the patriarchal figurehead of the Hutch criminal organisation.

He announced his surprise candidature in the 2024 general election after arriving back in Ireland following his arrest in Spain as part of an international investigation into money laundering.

Hutch won 3,096 first preference votes in that election, placing himself fourth in the four-seater Dublin Central constituency.

Transfers put him on 5,321 votes by the 11th and final count, finishing behind Labour’s Marie Sherlock on 6,102 votes, who took the final seat.

Hutch has now registered to run in the by-election triggered following the resignation of then-minister Paschal Donohoe last year when he took up a role at the World Bank.

Other candidates on the website include Fine Gael councillor and current Lord Mayor of Dublin Ray McAdam, Social Democrats councillor Daniel Ennis, People Before Profit candidate Eoghan O Ceannabhain, as well as independent councillors Malachy Steenson and Mannix Flynn.

Sinn Fein councillor Janice Boylan, Green councillor Janet Horner and Fianna Fail councillor John Stephens are also expected on the ballot paper, alongside Ruth O’Dea for Labour and Ian Noel Smyth for Aontu.

The Dublin Central byelection will take place in May, as will a by-election for the Galway West constituency, the seat vacated by Catherine Connolly when she became President of Ireland.