MONK ‘LITTLE CHANCE' LEO: HE'S HUTCHING AT STRAWS

IN BY-ELECTION, SAYS VARADKAR

- BY PAUL HEALY Crime Correspondent

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 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 TD for the Dublin North Central constituency, also said Hutch is free to run - but pointed to his outstanding CAB bill.

“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.