Gerry 'the monk' Hutch, a notorious Dublin gangland figure, has officially registered as a candidate for the Dublin Central by-election, bringing his anti-immigrant rhetoric to the campaign trail. The 63-year-old independent candidate, who was jailed for robbery in his youth, is running for a parliamentary seat in a contest dominated by xenophobia and immigration issues.
Hutch has called for 'illegal immigrants' to be detained in camps, specifically targeting east Africans. 'The ones that are Somalians and them type of people, no way. Interned,' he said. During a recent canvass, he claimed that 99% of Irish people wanted stronger immigration rules but were afraid to say so. His campaign flyers promise 'leadership' and 'honesty' to shake up the status quo.
Hutch shocked the political establishment by almost winning a seat in the 2024 general election. He is now running to fill the vacancy left by Paschal Donohoe, a finance minister who quit the Dáil for a World Bank job. An opinion poll ranks Hutch third with 14% of first preference votes, giving him a slim chance of winning against 13 other candidates.
While opinion polls show the cost of living (33%) and house prices (24%) as top issues, immigration (12%) remains a key concern for many voters. Some residents, like Elaine Roe, a 61-year-old cafe worker, expressed support for Hutch, saying, 'The government is wrecking our country, they’re bringing in rapists and murderers and kidnappers.' Others, like butcher John Clarke, 45, linked immigration to housing shortages, saying his children had to move to Sydney due to unaffordable homes.
Mainstream parties have disavowed racism but toughened their rhetoric on immigration. Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald declined to comment on Hutch's internment call, while former taoiseach Bertie Ahern was secretly recorded expressing concern about African immigrants. The current taoiseach, Micheál Martin, said Ahern's comments were 'not appropriate.' The death of a Congolese man, Yves Sakila, after being restrained by security guards on 15 May has added scrutiny on race relations.
