‘The Monk’ is refusing to pay massive €800k tax bill but has told supporters that he will DEFINITELY run in by-election
Hutch has held a series of discussions with family and friends about his candidacy since Finance Minister Pascal Donohoe announced he was standing down this week.
The veteran criminal has told them he plans to stand in the election and has already begun to draw up tentative plans – but he does not want to make a formal announcement at this time.
The 62-year-old is said to believe it is too early to go public as the election is not expected to be held until April or May 2026.
Just like in 2024 where Hutch was arrested in Spain days before he was set to formally announce his Dáil run, he has again become the focus of Gardaí in the run up to an election.
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Gerry Hutch during his previous bid for a Dáil seat
He was recently hit with a massive €800k bill for unpaid taxes by the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) following a probe of his finances in the years between 2006 and 2010.
CAB, under its revenue arm, may assess people for unpaid taxes in the State or under Proceeds of Crime cases after assets are identified.
The tax demand could potentially pose an issue for Hutch if he was elected as The Ethics in Public Office Acts requires all TDs to comply with tax obligations and to obtain a tax clearance certificate after an election.
However, The Monk has told followers he has no intention of paying over the money and intends to fight CAB’s demand through the courts.
Within minutes of Finance Minister Pascal Donohoe’s resignation being made public, speculation about Hutch’s possible candidacy reached fever pitch on social media.
And while the veteran criminal has not yet made any public comment, his associates have reactivated once-dormant Instagram and TikTok accounts that were used during his previous campaign last year.
Gerry Hutch
“I’ve been spending a lot of time lately listening, learning and connecting with people across our community,” one picture post on the official Gerard Hutch Instagram account read this week.
“I’m grateful for all the support and encouragement along the way. I’ll be able to share more updates soon, and I appreciate everyone who’s been on with me on this on the journey.”
Since the 2024 election, Hutch and been moving between Spain and Ireland and has spent the majority of his time in Lanzarote.
But he retains a network of supporters in Dublin’s north inner-city who are willing to back his political campaign and canvass for him on the ground.
He sent shockwaves through Ireland’s political class by almost getting elected to the Dáil last year.
Hutch narrowly lost out to Labour’s Marie Sherlock in a tight fight for the fourth seat in Dublin Central – a story which made headlines across the world.
Gerry Hutch with Sunday World’ reporter Nicola Tallant
Political observers had claimed they expected Hutch to get around 1,000 first preference votes – with his prospects of getting elected being widely dismissed on RTÉ.
But he stunned political watchers by securing more than 3,000 first-preference votes, coming fifth in the four-seat constituency.
A by-election, where only one seat is up for grabs, would pose a different type of challenge for Hutch – and Sinn Féin would be strong favourites to take the seat.
Despite his political ambitions, Hutch remains a target for police both in Spain and in Ireland.
He is currently the focus of a Spanish-led investigation into money-laundering and was granted bail of €100k by a Spanish court last year.
There is also a long-term investigation into the Hutch Organised Crime Group by gardaí, which could also pose a legal risk to Hutch.
While on remand awaiting trial for the Regency Hotel murder, Hutch was taken from his cell by specialist gardaí from the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation (NBCI) and quizzed for more than 12 hours in connection with this probe.
He was released without charge. Hutch was also later found not guilty of the murder of David Byrne in the Regency Hotel.
The Monk is long suspected of having planned two of the biggest armed robberies in the history of the State.
The first targeted a Securicor van outside the Bank of Ireland at Marino Mart, Dublin, in 1987, and the second was the £3m raid on the Brinks Allied security company depot in Clonshaugh, north Dublin, in 1995.
However, despite being linked to criminality, The Monk still retains strong political support in the north inner-city.
Speaking on Crime World last year, Hutch said he was standing for election because the Irish political establishment have not been doing their jobs properly.
Gerry Hutch posters during his previous election
“If I get into Leinster House, I won’t be taking bullsh*t. I’ll rock the house.
“They won’t be all nods and winks – get this party in and that party in.
“They’ve been in for years, they haven’t done their job.
“I will try to change things.
“I’ll have to get in the door. I’ll have to walk the ground. It’s like getting a brand new job. You can’t go in and run off with everything. It’s going to take time.”
Gerry Hutch is hoping to take Pascal Donohoe’s old seat
News in 90 Seconds – Sunday, November 23