Irish gangster runs for former finance minister’s seat

{"text":[[{"start":5.95,"text":"One of Ireland’s most notorious criminal figures is mounting a new bid for a parliamentary seat in Dublin left vacant by the former finance minister."}],[{"start":15.600000000000001,"text":"The contrast between Gerry “The Monk” Hutch and “Prudent Paschal” Donohoe, who left a two-decade-long career in politics late last year for a World Bank role, could hardly be starker. "}],[{"start":27.25,"text":"Donohoe, from the centre-right Fine Gael party, was a longtime minister and respected chair of the Eurogroup. Hutch is a convicted criminal accused of leading one of Ireland’s most notorious crime families. In the May 22 by-election, he is standing as an independent candidate after narrowly failing to win a seat in that same constituency in 2024."}],[{"start":50.75,"text":"Hutch, 63, served prison terms totalling about a decade for offences including burglary, assault and handling stolen goods. He denies involvement in two spectacular bank heists in the 1980s and 1990s for which he has long been the prime suspect. He earned the moniker “The Monk” because of his low profile and aversion to drugs."}],[{"start":72.6,"text":"In 2023 he was acquitted of murder in relation to an assassination attempt on a rival Irish crime boss, Daniel Kinahan, who was arrested last month in Dubai."}],[{"start":82.69999999999999,"text":"These days Hutch spends much of his time in Lanzarote. He remains under investigation in Spain for money laundering, with authorities there freezing his assets in the country last month."}],[{"start":92.79999999999998,"text":"His campaign is largely online, which he said was preferable to “tormenting” voters on their doorsteps. His slogan is: “If you want change, vote different.” In one video, he wore a striped black-and-white top reminiscent of prison garb."}],[{"start":null,"text":"https://x.com/GerardHutchNo1/status/2031323702755766713"}],[{"start":107.84999999999998,"text":"At a boxing club he helped set up, Hutch said illegal immigrants should be “interned” in camps. He said he welcomed “genuine” immigrants but added: “Somalians and them kind of people — no way.” He also said Irish people had “gone too posh” to do some jobs."}],[{"start":125.54999999999998,"text":"Ireland has no mainstream far-right party, but anti-immigration tensions have risen, particularly amid a chronic housing crisis. Immigrant numbers, however, fell 16 per cent in the 12 months to April 2025 according to the most recent official statistics, and those from the rest of the world excluding Irish, EU or UK citizens, fell 27 per cent."}],[{"start":148.7,"text":"Hutch’s supporters seem unperturbed about his lack of concrete policies."}],[{"start":153.64999999999998,"text":"“He’s a man of the people,” said Timmy, an electrician who declined to give his full name, near the impoverished inner-city streets where Hutch grew up. “This government isn’t doing the country any favours. He’s a man of his word. He’s just the man for the job.”"}],[{"start":168.84999999999997,"text":"By-elections in Ireland can often be tough for the ruling parties. Ireland’s government is a coalition between centrist Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, with backing from independents. "}],[{"start":null,"text":"

"}],[{"start":180.59999999999997,"text":"But Friday’s twin votes in Dublin and Galway also promise to be a test for the leftist Sinn Féin opposition party, which advocates for Irish reunification."}],[{"start":191.04999999999995,"text":"The Dublin Central vote takes place in the home constituency of Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald while the Galway West seat was left open after Catherine Connolly, an independent leftist, became president last year."}],[{"start":206.69999999999996,"text":"“This is a huge test for Mary Lou McDonald,” said Gary Murphy, a politics professor at Dublin City University. “A defeat — especially a significant defeat — would be difficult to explain.”"}],[{"start":217.69999999999996,"text":"A poll published on Friday showed Sinn Féin’s Janice Boylan leading the first preference votes in Dublin Central on 21 per cent, ahead of Daniel Ennis of the leftist Social Democrats on 18 per cent and Hutch on 14 per cent."}],[{"start":231.59999999999997,"text":"But under Ireland’s proportional representation system, the transfer of second and subsequent preferences is crucial — and there Ennis was ahead. Hutch is seen as far less transfer-friendly, especially in some of the more affluent parts of the constituency."}],[{"start":247.04999999999995,"text":"In Dublin Central, bets placed on Polymarket gave Ennis a 67 per cent chance of victory; Hutch had just 7 per cent."}],[{"start":255.49999999999994,"text":"“I haven’t made my mind up about who to vote for,” said Gerald, a retired barman in Dublin. “Daniel Ennis seems full of promise.”"}],[{"start":263.84999999999997,"text":"But half a million dollars — by far the largest amount wagered in the Dublin race on the betting platform — is on Hutch."}],[{"start":271.54999999999995,"text":"In Ireland’s 2024 general election, Hutch came close to winning a seat but was pipped to the post by Marie Sherlock of the Labour Party. In the by-elections, candidates need to win 50 per cent of the vote plus one."}],[{"start":285.69999999999993,"text":"That is a high bar for a polarising candidate such as Hutch. "}],[{"start":289.54999999999995,"text":"Patricia, a former garment factory worker who planned to vote for Hutch, cheerfully admitted that “he hasn’t a clue” about policies. But if elected, she added, “he’d put the cat among the pigeons”."}],[{"start":306.5,"text":""}]],"url":"https://audio.ftcn.net.cn/album/a_1778848915_5262.mp3"}