Crime boss Gerry the Monk Hutch narrowly loses election bid in Ireland, while Sinn Fein also look set to be defeated as voters stick with centrist coalition
Crime boss Gerry the Monk Hutch narrowly lost his election bid in Ireland after returning to Dublin for a closely-fought campaign.
Crime boss Gerry the Monk Hutch narrowly lost his election bid in Ireland after returning to Dublin for a closely-fought campaign.
Hutch, 61, had stunned voters when he launched his run to gain a seat in parliament after returning from Spain, where he awaits trial on money-laundering charges.
Irelands electoral system, allowing voters to rate candidates by order of preference, made way for Hutch to potentially break through and upset the status quo amid mounting concern over frontline election issues including housing and migration.
As votes rolled in through Saturday night and Sunday morning, Hutch looked poised to make waves, coming fourth place in the initial round with 3,098 first preference votes - firmly in the running for one of four seats in Dublin Central.
Hutch looked on course to gain the final seat after Sinn Feins Mary Lou McDonald became the first declared winner. But in a shock turn, the seat was eventually won by the Labour Partys Marie Sherlock, with 6,102 votes to Hutchs 5,321.
Sherlock will join Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald, Social Democrat Gary Gannon and Fine Gaels Paschal Donohoe in the Dáil in the Dublin Central seats.
In an election with historically low turnout, and with waning support Sinn Féin, Fianna Fail and Fine Gael now look set to continue their centrist coalition despite a record low combined vote share - and with challenges ahead to restore confidence in voters.
Gerry Hutch, an independent candidate and alleged criminal, is joined by media at the RDS count centre in Dublin on December 1, 2024
Fine Gael leader Simon Harris gestures, on the day of Irelands general election, at the Wicklow count centre, in Greystones, Ireland, November 30
Sinn Feins party leader Mary Lou McDonald (L) celebrates with party colleagues after being elected in Dublin Central, on November 30
Vote counting continues in Irelands national election on November 30, in Dublin
Sherlock had fallen more than 2,000 votes behind Hutch by Sunday morning as he picked up some 1,262 transfers from far-right councillor Malachy Steenson.
Sinn Féins candidate became the first declared winner, and her surplus votes went overwhelmingly to Hutch under the proportional representation system.
Frenzied reporting from Dublin seemed confident Hutch was on course to reach the 6,551 votes needed to guarantee a win.
When former MEP Clare Daly, a socialist with staunch anti-NATO views, was confirmed to have lost, her voters too preferred Hutch to Sherlock.
But voters for the losing Greens and Fianna Fáil showed much more support for Sherlock than Hutch, boosting her to within 124 votes of Hutch with one round to go.
Sherlock went on to benefit from transfers from the Social Democrats Gary Gannon and Fine Gaels Paschal Donohoe, finishing on 6,102 votes.
Hutch, who had been given permission to return from Spain while on bail, fought to the end, ultimately coming fifth to miss out on one of four places.
He was not expected to turn up to the Royal Dublin Society hall in Dublin after it became evident he had lost, but turned up around 3pm and was swamped by media.
Hutch, still thought to be under a death threat from a rival gang, was asked if he would consider running again.
He ruled out a run for president, but said that he enjoyed running in the general election, adding: Ive been running all my life, I love running.
Pressed by a reporter about his trial at the Special Criminal Court, he shot back: Go back down to the Special Criminal Court and ask them.
This is an election, he added.
Hutch said he was happy with his votes and said he had expected to perform well in the election.
The mood shifted as questions were asked about his extradition and return to Spain. This is a joke, he was heard saying to a member of his entourage.
He later said he wanted to media to stay away from me and joked there was never a guard around when you need one as reporters circled.
Hutch took the loss well, shaking hands with Sherlock and telling her: I hope you do good work.
She thanked him and said she would be a voice for everyone in Dublin Central.
Hutch left soon after and broke into a run towards the exit gate.
Gerry Hutch is pictured surrounded by a large security presence as he leaves the RDS count centre as counting continues in the Irish general election on December 1
Last spring, Hutch was found not guilty by the non-jury Special Criminal Court of the murder of David Byrne
Gerry Hutch arrives at a count centre following Irelands general election, in Dublin, Ireland, December 1
Irelands Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader Simon Harris kisses his wife Caoimhe Wade, on the day of Irelands general election, at the Wicklow count centre, in Greystones, on November 30
Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald celebrates with supporters at the count at the Royal Dublin Society in Dublin, Saturday, Nov. 30
After two days of counting following Fridays poll, and with more than 135 of the 174 seats filled by Sunday evening, the return of a national administration involving Fianna Fail and Fine Gael now looks a much more likely prospect than any government including the long-time main opposition party, Sinn Fein.
The two centre-right parties that have dominated Irish politics for a century, and who shared power in the last coalition, both ruled out governing with Sinn Fein before the election, so it seems unlikely that either would countenance that option if they could form a workable coalition together.
Speaking to reporters in Cork on Sunday night, Fianna Fails leader Micheál Martin said it had been a good day for Fianna Fail, improving their position as the largest party in the country and outperforming the exit poll to snap up the largest share of the vote at 21.9 per cent.
Hours earlier, Martin said he needed to take a walk to think through the possibilities around government formation.
Asked later in the evening if he now had a clearer picture, Irelands deputy premier said: I didnt get the walk yet - that may be tomorrow morning.
I think the sensible thing is to await the completion of all counts.
He added: Well let the dust settle and savour the moment. Well then be in a position over the next couple of days to assess the landscape, devise our strategies.
Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael are poised to continue the rotating taoiseach arrangement regardless of how many seats they finish on.
Fine Gael have conceded that Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin will again go first in the arrangement, the Daily Mail understands.
We will understand that if their seat numbers are higher and that Simon has taken over as taoiseach - in circumstances that he might never have had the chance - we understand that Fianna Fáil will go first, a senior Fine Gael source told the Irish Daily Mail.
Another option may see the two parties seek the support of independent TDs.
The Social Democrats and the Irish Labour Party, which both had a good election, appear the most realistic junior partners.
Social Democrats deputy leader Cian OCallaghan said he was delighted with his partys performance, saying it is now the fourth largest party.
Leading figures told the Mail that they favour Independents over centre-left parties such as the Social Democrats or Labour - despite both of those celebrating major gains.
They also warned that negotiations with the Labour Party would drag out for months.
Gerry Hutch was given permission to return to Ireland from Spain, pictured December 1
The seat was eventually won by the Labour Partys Marie Sherlock , with 6,102 votes to Hutchs 5,321
Fine Gael politician Paschal Donohoe pauses at RDS, the Royal Dublin Society, after voters went to the polls during Irelands election in Dublin, on December 1
Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin congratulates Seamus McGrath after being elected in Cork South Central, Sunday December 1
Senior figures have also said that a repetition of the rotating taoiseach mitigates against coalescing with Labour as a third party.
Fianna Fail secured the most first preference votes in the proportional representation contest, taking 21.9% to Fine Gaels 20.8%. Sinn Fein came in third on 19%.
While Sinn Feins vote share represented a marked improvement on its disappointing showing in Junes local elections in Ireland, it is still significantly down on the 24.5% poll-topping share it secured in the 2020 general election.
The other main story of the election is the near wipeout of the Green Party, which was the junior partner in the outgoing coalition.
The party has lost 11 of the 12 seats it won in 2020, including that held by Media minister Catherine Martin, with leader Roderic OGorman clinging on to remain its sole representative in the Dail.
