Gerard 'The Monk' Hutch expected to depart for Lanzarote this week after failing to secure Dáil seat
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Gerard 'The Monk' Hutch is expected to leave for Lanzarote this week after narrowly losing his bid to be elected to the Dáil.
The 61-year-old was eliminated on count 11 at 5,321 votes at the RDS on Sunday in the Dublin North Central Constituency.
Labour’s Marie Sherlock pipped him to the post with 6,102 votes and took the fourth seat.
However, his performance sent shockwaves through the political establishment as commentators and politicians struggled to explain the popularity of a man long associated with gangland crime.
He was mobbed when he arrived at the RDS count centre on Sunday and later congratulated Marie Sherlock on her win, saying he was good friends with former Labour TD for Dublin North Central Joe Costello.
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The has learned The Monk is now expected to jet out to his second home in Lanzarote, where has spent most of the last few years.
Meanwhile in Dublin’s north inner city on Monday, he was again the talking point for some, who said they were “disappointed” he did not secure a seat.
Kate McCarrick said: “I voted for him and so did all of my family. You want to know why The Monk nearly got in? Because of us, the people of the inner city who marked our cards giving him the number one vote.
Tim Samson said: “Of course I voted for him, he’s only going in to a place full of people who don’t listen to the likes of us anyway, the looked down on class."
A relative of The Monk who did not want to be named said he was going to his house in Lanzarote this week and “not too bothered” about losing out.
“It would not have stopped at the RDS, it would have gone on and on and on, that circus."
While another man who asked not to be named said: “I voted for him, he did everything for people in Dublin 1. I’ve known him all my life”.
Ahead of the outcome results, Labour Party leader Ivana Bacik said she was "appalled” over Hutch being in contention for a Dáil seat.
Fine Gael's Paschal Donohoe said his party would “reflect” on how Hutch got as far as he did.
Mr Hutch flew to Ireland from Lanzarote on November 11, where he is being investigated for money laundering, to declare he was running in the general election.
He was later seen canvassing all over the inner city, visiting the Corinthians boxing club and Sheriff Street running club.
He has a large group of family members in the north inner city, where they continue to live.