Transfers could carry controversial candidate across the line, former Fianna Fáil leader and Dublin Central TD predicts

Gerard “The Monk” Hutch is on track to win a Dáil seat in Dublin Central following a huge boost in votes. Counting in the RDS Simmonscourt resumed early on Sunday morning, with all eyes on Dublin Central following Independent candidate Malachy Steenson’s elimination on Saturday evening.

Newstalk’s political correspondent Sean Defoe is expecting Gerry Hutch to take the fourth seat adding, “The Monk will be a TD before all this is over”. Further down the tally, Labour’s Marie Sherlock is at 7.4%, Fianna Fáil’s Mary Fitzpatrick at 7.1% and Independent Malachy Steenson is at 4.8%.

Gangland figure Gerry ‘The Monk’ Hutch was a surprise late addition to the Dublin Central constituency but is now on course to land the final fourth seat there after securing over 11.9% of first prefe

Film maker Jim Sheridan has said “anger” is behind the “surprising” result for convicted criminal Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch who is still in the running for a seat in Dublin Central.

The convicted Dublin criminal, also known as The Monk, received the fourth-highest first preference vote in the four-seat constituency with almost 10 per cent of the vote

While the early tallies look good for Hutch the tallies are all from boxes in the north inner city which would be considered his strongest area. Gerry ‘the Monk’ Hutch is performing well so far according to early tallies in Dublin Central.

There are four seats up for grabs in Dublin Central in what looks to be an intriguing race. Mary Lou McDonald and Paschal Donohoe are set to be re-elected but the other two seats are up for grabs, with Gerry ‘The Monk’ Hutch looking like he could take one,

Local TD Gary Gannon said the gangland figure’s popularity is down to media attention and long-held hurt in the community.