Paschal Donohoe addresses suggestions Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch will run for election in his constituency

Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe has stated that the people of Dublin Central want to put “organised crime and criminality behind them” amid suggestions that Gerry “The Monk” Hutch intends to contest the next general election.

It was reported over the weekend that Mr Hutch, 61, is planning to run for election in the Dublin Central constituency when the general election is called. This is Mr Donohoe and Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald’s constituency.

Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon and Green Party TD Neasa Hourgian also represent the area, with all four TDs set to contest the next election.

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Asked by the Irish Mirror at the launch of the Dublin City Taskforce report if he believed Mr Hutch would be a good representative for his community, Minister Donohoe stated that he will be contesting the election on “law and order”.

“It's a matter for whoever wants to be a candidate in Dublin Central to put their name forward,” he said. “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. I'll be making the case for stability and competence in government,

“I'll be making the case for the communities of Dublin Central continuing what they want to do, which is putting organised crime and criminality behind them.”

Taoiseach Simon Harris said the “best possible representative for Dublin Central is Paschal Donohoe”.

Mr Hutch’s possible Dáil run would come 18 months after he was acquitted by the Special Criminal Court of the February 2016 murder of Kinahan ally David Byrne, 33, at north Dublin’s Regency Airport Hotel. It’s claimed he has talked with his family, put together a campaign team and identified a boxing club in the inner city as his HQ should he run.

Mr Hutch has not responded to a request for comment from the Irish Mirror.

The Taoiseach has confirmed that the next election will take place before the end of the year, with November 29 now expected to be the most likely date.

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