DUBLIN, April 30 (Reuters) - Gerard Hutch, named in a 2023 court case as the head of a well-known crime family in Ireland, will seek election to the Irish parliament in a by-election next month after narrowly missing out on a seat in a parliamentary election 18 months ago.
Hutch’s name is among the confirmed candidates on the Dublin city returning officer’s website for the May 22 Dublin Central constituency by-election for the seat vacated by former Irish finance minister Paschal Donohoe.
Hutch, better known as “The Monk”, finished in fifth place in the four-seat constituency at the 2024 national election.
Analysts say he faces a potentially tougher task this time round with just one seat up for grabs and all the parties whose candidates were elected last time competing again.
Hutch’s surge at the national election also faltered when he struggled to attract vote transfers from other candidates.
