Elaine Roe, a 61-year-old cafe worker, knows exactly what matters most in this week’s byelection for Dublin’s north inner city. “The government is ruining our country—they’re bringing in rapists, murderers, and kidnappers. It’s disgraceful. I might vote for Hutch; he seems like a normal person.” That would be Gerry “the Monk” Hutch, a well-known gangland figure running as an independent in an election that’s anything but ordinary. The 63-year-old, who was jailed for robbery as a young man, is a celebrity candidate in a race for a parliamentary seat that’s been overshadowed by xenophobia and immigration.
Voters in the Dublin Central constituency will head to the polls on Friday, with results due Saturday, but one thing is already clear: hostility toward newcomers—especially Black immigrants and Muslims—has become part of Ireland’s political mainstream.
Hutch has called for “illegal immigrants” to be held in camps. “They should all be interned,” he said, singling out East Africans. “The ones from Somalia and those kinds of people—no way. Interned.” When the Guardian joined Hutch on a recent campaign walk, with a flatbed truck blasting pop songs in the background, he claimed 99% of Irish people want stricter immigration rules. “But you’re not allowed to say that. Even when people have nowhere to live because of the housing crisis, you can’t say that,” he added.
In reality, what was once a fringe idea—that immigrants are to blame for crime and the housing shortage—has become a common refrain in some areas. Hutch said residents of Dublin Central, which includes working-class neighborhoods, hostels, asylum shelters, and wealthy districts, urged him to run. “I’ll use the platform to help the people who voted for me, and they’ll tell me what to do.”
People on the streets and at doorsteps asked for selfies with Hutch. “You’re my number one, pal. I love everything you’ve done,” one man said. Hutch handed him a flyer promising “leadership” and “honesty” to shake things up. “We need change, and I’m your man,” it read.
Hutch has been a notorious figure for decades. A court named him the leader of an organized crime group, and he has admitted to committing crimes. “Some of them I got away with,” he told RTÉ in 2008.
He shocked the political establishment by nearly winning a seat in the 2024 general election and is now running to fill the vacancy left by Paschal Donohoe, a finance minister from the ruling Fine Gael party, who left 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 beating 13 other candidates in an election decided by transfers from eliminated candidates.
Polls also show that voters’ top concerns are the cost of living (33%), followed by house prices (24%) and immigration (12%). Yet for many, these issues are connected.
“I’m not racist, but we should look after our own instead of bringing people in,” said John Clarke, a 45-year-old butcher. “I have two kids—both had to move to Sydney because they couldn’t afford to buy homes here. I’m especially against Muslims coming in; they want to take over.”
Mainstream parties all reject racism but have toughened their language on immigration and asylum. Mary Lou McDonald, leader of Sinn Féin, a progressive opposition party, avoided responding to Hutch’s call for internment. “We can’t comment on other people’s comments,” she said. Sinn Féin’s candidate, Janice Boylan, leads the race, but analysts say she’ll need transfers, including from Hutch’s supporters.To fend off Daniel Ennis of the Social Democrats.
Bertie Ahern, a former taoiseach and leader of the ruling Fianna Fáil party, was secretly recorded telling a voter: “The ones I worry about are the Africans. We can’t be taking in people from the Congo and all these places.” He also expressed concern about the next generation of Muslims.
The current taoiseach, Micheál Martin, said the comments were “not appropriate” and did not reflect the views of Fianna Fáil. Ahern later said he had no problem with people entering through visa and asylum systems.
The death of a Congolese man in the city centre on 15 May has put added scrutiny on race relations. Yves Sakila, 35, died after being restrained by security guards who suspected him of shoplifting. Police are investigating.
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Tributes were left in Dublin city centre after Yves Sakila, a Congolese man, died after being restrained by security guards. Photograph: Conor Humphries/Reuters
With coffers swelled by corporate tax revenues, the centrist Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael coalition has ramped up public spending, but rising prices and a housing shortage have created a sour mood.
“The country is falling to bits. There’s no jobs, no housing. If you do have a job the wages are crap. My son is 36 and still living at home,” said a charity shop worker, who withheld her name.
Jimmy McDaid, 77, said he would vote for Hutch to clean up drug dealing. Asked about Hutch’s criminal record, McDaid said that was in the past. “Everyone is entitled to a second chance. Look at the government – they’re the gangsters, saying one thing and doing another.”
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A Sinn Féin poster in the Dublin Central byelection. Photograph: Rory Carroll/The Guardian
However, in a byelection in Galway – to fill a Dáil seat vacated by the president, Catherine Connolly – the Fine Gael candidate, Seán Kyne, narrowly leads opinion polls. His main rivals are Noel Thomas, an independent who has condemned Ireland’s “reckless open border policies”, and Labour’s Helen Ogbu, who was born in Nigeria and in 2024 became the first person of colour to be elected to Galway city council.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of FAQs about a Dublin gangland figure bringing extremist views into the Irish mainstream while on the campaign trail
BeginnerLevel Questions
1 Who is this person and why is he suddenly in politics
This person is a wellknown figure from Dublins gangland scene with a criminal record He is now running as a candidate in local elections using a campaign focused on antiimmigration and antiestablishment rhetoric
2 What kind of extremist views is he bringing into the mainstream
He is promoting farright ideas including strong antiimmigrant sentiment conspiracy theories about a great replacement of the Irish population and distrust of the Gardaí and the government
3 Is this person actually popular with voters
He has a small but very vocal following His support comes from people who feel left behind by the system and are frustrated with immigration and housing issues However he is not a mainstream candidate and is rejected by most major political parties
4 Why is this considered a problem for Irish society
The concern is that his criminal background normalizes violence and lawlessness while his extremist views spread hate and division It also risks giving a platform to dangerous ideas that were previously on the fringes
5 Can a person with a criminal record actually run for office in Ireland
Yes In Ireland there is no law preventing someone with a criminal record from running for local or national office as long as they meet the basic eligibility requirements
IntermediateLevel Questions
6 How is he using the campaign trail to spread these views
He uses social media and public meetings to spread short angry videos He often targets specific immigrant communities blames them for housing shortages and calls for Ireland for the Irish His tone is confrontational and designed to go viral
7 What is the great replacement theory he promotes
Its a farright conspiracy theory that claims there is a deliberate plot by global elites to replace the native white European population with nonwhite immigrants He uses this to stoke fear and anger even though it has no basis in fact
8 Has he been linked to any violence or threats during his campaign
There have been reports of intimidation and aggressive behavior at his rallies Gardaí have increased security
