Famed director Jim Sheridan shoots movie with Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch - saying he's not an 'intimidating figure'
Hutch is currently canvassing ahead of his attempts to claim a seat in the Dublin Central constituency in the general election this weekend
Oscar-nominated film director Jim Sheridan has admitted he doesn’t think Gerard ‘The Monk’ Hutch is an “intimidating figure” as he opens about making a movie with the veteran crime boss.
The My Left Foot director was spotted in Dublin city centre filming The Monk as he canvassed door to door in his bid for the Dáil in this Friday’s election.
Mr Sheridan has broken his silence about his new project with the Dubliner as he hopes his efforts to document Hutch's attempt to enter politics will attract international offers.
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Jim told the Irish Mirror: “In my interaction with him, I don’t see him as that kind of intimidating figure.”
Explaining how the project came about, he revealed: “Conor Lenihan, ex-Fianna Fáil minister, rang me earlier this week asking if I knew Gerard Hutch. I said ‘I don’t know if he likes me or what he thinks about me anymore’ but I said, ‘I’ll ask him if he could do an interview with you’. So, I rang Gerard Hutch and he said ‘Jim, I’ll do whatever you want’.
“Basically, Conor was saying to me that this has been a campaign that hasn’t really taken off."
Asked if he meant Hutch’s campaign, Jim said: “As in the whole election campaign, probably one of the most interesting figures who has been acquitted of murder is running. We wanted to explore the motivation of a person like The Monk putting himself forward for election, coming as he did from a very distressed upbringing. It’s not dissimilar to mine and maybe we had different life paths, but we came from the same area.”
Mr Sheridan and Hutch didn’t know each other growing up, but Sheridan said he felt “compelled” to tell his story. He even donated a boxing ring and equipment to Hutch’s boxing club, Corinthians, back in 1997.
“I gave him some equipment and a ring from The Boxer when we made it in 1997 for the gym that Kellie Harrington came out of, Corinthians. He was from Corporation Street, and I was from Sheriff Street. He’s 15 years younger than me but he’s the same age as Conor Lenihan. They’re only a month apart.
“Conor was really compelled by this story. Like, ‘here’s this lad educated in Belvedere College’ in the constituency and he becomes Government Minister. The Monk goes to jail and the contrast between them, I thought, was interesting. I think there is probably a lot of international interest.”
On Monday, the pair were spotted filming while Hutch canvassed the streets in Dublin’s city centre. Jim explained: “We just did some colour today and ‘ll do a little bit more tomorrow. If he gets elected it is one type of story, if he doesn’t, then it is a piece of colour.
“I just followed him around in his constituency. I was interested in what people had to say, to be honest. That’s all. I just wanted to see what it was like if I followed him door to door.”
Asked if he was fearful walking around with Hutch, he said: “I don’t have that DNA in me. Like, I did a movie with 50 Cent… there would be a lot of interest in The Monk if he got elected and I think we have an American President who, before he was President, was a felon.
“I don’t know what it is going to be. It’s just grabbing something before the election and seeing what happens. I haven’t even approached anybody, but I probably will see if anyone is interested.”
Asked if he thought Hutch would get elected, Mr Sheridan said: “I’m not sure. People are going to say when you’re going around. In my interaction with him, I don’t see him as that kind of intimidating figure.”
In February, Mr Sheridan travelled to Listowel in Co Kerry to help launch artist Mike O’Donnell’s art exhibition, which displayed 12 drawings of The Monk featuring moments from his trial at the Special Criminal Court before he was cleared of the murder of Kinahan cartel gang member David Byrne.
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