Leo Varadkar issues brutal reality check on Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch's political comeback plan
Former Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar(Image: Instagram)Former Taoiseach Leo Varadkar says he can’t see Gerry ‘The Monk’ Hutch winning in the upcoming by-election.Speaking exclusively to this paper, Mr Varadkar, who resigned as leader of the country last April, said ultimately Hutch (62) is free to run in the Dublin North Central by-election next year - but he has a much higher bar to climb than last time.“It’s a free country. He can run if he wants to. I can’t see him winning though. He came fifth last time when there were four seats available. In a by-election there’s only one. It’s a lot easier to be a successful criminal than a successful candidate,” he added.Hutch, who was recently made aware of an €800,000 Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) bill, has reportedly told friends that he intends to run in the by-election that has now come about as a result of the shock departure of Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe.Mr Varadkar’s comments are a stark criticism that speaks to Hutch’s alleged remaining ties to criminality - although the veteran crime figure did narrowly miss out on a seat to Labour’s Marie Sherlock in a down-to-the-wire general election result in December last year.Also speaking to this paper last night, Ms Sherlock, who is now a sitting TD for the Dublin North Central constituency, also said Hutch is free to run - but she also pointed to his outstanding CAB bill.Gerry Hutch(Image: Collins)"People are free to put themselves on a ballot paper and that’s the beauty of Irish democracy - let the electorate decide. That’s also the beauty of the result last year.“I noticed there is a very substantial CAB bill and obviously you don't rack up a bill from the Criminal Assets Bureau for no reason and I think the electorate will have to take a view on that,” she said.Hutch famously went up to Ms Sherlock in the count centre and congratulated her on winning the fourth and final seat - after voting transfers went in her favour.Of the 930 surplus votes that were distributed following the election of Gary Gannon, 716 went to Ms Sherlock and only 18 went to Hutch. The now outgoing Paschal Donohoe's surplus of 1,518 were then distributed - with 1,032 going to Ms Sherlock and 127 to Hutch, allowing the Labour candidate to take the fourth seat.Running as an independent candidate last year, Hutch sensationally received 3,098 first preference votes.‘The Monk’ is understood to still be abroad in his Spanish safehaven - and has been hit with recent troubles after the CAB informed him that it will be coming after him for an alleged €800,000 in unpaid taxes from the years 2006 to 2010.The case has yet to be opened before the High Court, but sources close to Hutch have stated to another newspaper that he has no intention of paying the bill.That could spell trouble for Hutch, as any person elected to Dail Eireann would have to be found to be tax compliant. He also remains under active investigation in Spain after a joint garda operation there last year saw him arrested as part of an alleged money laundering probe.Hutch was also one of nine people arrested as part of a major joint garda investigation into alleged money laundering. He was released from custody on a €100,000 bail. He then sensationally flew back to Dublin where he announced his whirlwind candidacy in the general election. That investigation is understood to remain ongoing.Gerry Hutch arriving into Dublin airport(Image: Mick O'Neill/Daily Mirror/Irish Daily Star)It came over a year on from when he was released from custody after being acquitted by the Special Criminal Court of being the shooter who killed Kinahan cartel associate David Byrne in Dublin’s Regency Hotel on February 5, 2016.Presiding Judge Tara Burns said while there was no evidence that Hutch committed the murder, there was evidence that suggested he was in control of the firearms which were used in the shooting - after the event occurred, in March of 2016.Hutch, when asked about this finding during his podcast with Crime World last year, only responded to the finding with the words “well, whatever.”Citing that he was all about “change,” Hutch had just a few short weeks to launch his campaign - which was primarily done via social media. He also appeared on the Crime World podcast - and told the Sunday Independent at the time why he was running."I'm doing it because people in my community asked me to. I want to serve the people of Dublin 1,3, and 7. I want to serve the country. I've a list as long as my arm on the things that need to be done," he said."But I'm not the type of person who would be anyone for their vote. If you want to vote for me, then do. I won't be twisting anyone's arm. I will be out, knocking on certain doors."People can tell me to f**k off if they're not interested. I have to expect that cheek from people. Am I confident I'll get elected? Absolutely I am."Sign up to our new Crime Ireland newsletter and get exclusive content from Michael O'Toole and Paul HealyThe Irish Mirror's Crime Writers Michael O'Toole and Paul Healy are writing a new weekly newsletter called Crime Ireland. Click here to sign up and get it delivered to your inbox every weekHutch also said his number one priority is homelessness and housing, adding that there are almost 4,500 homeless children and that this turns them into "child criminals"."On top of that, we have the housing crisis, not enough places for people to buy affordable homes. It's an emergency situation," he said."There is too much red tape in this country. We have to get rid of the red tape, and quickly."Hutch was largely out of Ireland after the Regency shooting due to the significant Kinahan cartel threat to his life. During the course of the feud his brother Eddie, nephews Gareth, Gary, Derek Coakley Hutch and pals Noel ‘Duck Egg’ Kirwan and Noel ‘Kingsize’ Duggan were all shot dead.His brother Patsy Hutch narrowly avoided death in several attempted Kinahan sanctioned hits - while his nephew Patrick was also a major target and had to flee for a time after he too was acquitted of the Regency Hotel murder of David Byrne.The Kinahan Hutch feud is largely considered to have cooled since many of the main players are behind bars or on the run.Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here.
