Dublin gangland figure brings extremist views to Irish mainstream on campaign trail

A 61-year-old cafe worker identified the most important issue as the government’s harm to the country, while a prominent gangland figure, Gerry “the monk” Hutch, ran as an independent for a parliamentary seat. Hutch, previously jailed for robbery convictions, became a celebrity candidate in a contest shaped by xenophobia and immigration fears. In Dublin Central, voters cast ballots with results expected later, but hostility to newcomers is already evident. Hutch called for illegal immigrants to be detained in camps and singled out east Africans, including Somalians. He claimed most Irish people wanted stronger immigration rules and said people were not allowed to say immigrants were to blame for crime and housing shortages, even amid homelessness and a housing disaster.

"Hutch has called for illegal immigrants to be detained in camps. They should be all interned, he said, and singled out east Africans. The ones that are Somalians and them type of people, no way. Interned. When the Guardian accompanied Hutch on a recent canvas, soundtracked by a flatbed truck blasting pop songs, he said 99% of Irish people wanted stronger rules on immigration. But you're not allowed to say that. Even when people have nowhere to live, because of the housing disaster, you can't say that, he said."

"That would be Gerry the monk Hutch, a prominent gangland figure who is running as an independent in an election that is far from normal. The 63-year-old who was jailed for robbery convictions in his youth is a celebrity candidate in a contest for a parliamentary seat that has been dominated by xenophobia and immigration. Voters in the Dublin Central constituency will cast ballots on Friday, with results on Saturday, but one outcome is already clear: hostility to newcomers, especially Black immigrants and Muslims, has entered Ireland's political mainstream."

"Residents in Dublin Central, which spans working-class neighbourhoods, hostels, asylum shelters and wealthy districts, had urged him to run, Hutch said. I'm gonna use the platform to help the people who voted me in and they'll tell me what to do. People in the street and on doorsteps requested selfies with Hutch. You're my number one, pal. I love everything you"

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