Voters will take a view of his very substantial CAB bill, says Marie Sherlock

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.

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"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.