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<\/p>\nEmployees of third-level institutions, school teachers and civil servants were among those posting anti-migrant comments in a Facebook group, responding to statements from by-election candidate Gerry Hutch<\/p>\n
‘Ireland – Rising from the Ashes (Ireland for the Irish)’ asked members: “Would you intern illegals in the Curragh?”<\/p>\n
This comes after comments from Hutch, who said \u201cillegal immigrants\u201d, including Somalis, who were \u201cmooching\u201d their way into the country, should be interned in the Curragh.<\/p>\n
The Special Criminal Court has named Hutch as the head of the\u00a0Hutch Gang, a\u00a0Dublin-based, international\u00a0organised crime\u00a0group. The Hutch Gang has been involved in\u00a0a feud\u00a0with the\u00a0Kinahan Cartel, which has resulted in 18 murders.<\/p>\n
Hutch, known as ‘The Monk’, previously ran in the general election in 2024.<\/p>\n
The post in the group read: “A candidate in the upcoming bielection [sic] made the suggestion that illegals should be interned in The Curragh. What do you think?”<\/p>\n
The replies in the public group, many of them which contained racist slurs, came from people who listed their employment at third-level institutions, schools, and even in a government department.<\/p>\n
One person, who listed their employment at Trinity College, wrote: “Spike Island would suit perfectly.”<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Gerry ‘The Monk’ Hutch attends a public meeting organised by Save Our SNAs at the National Handball Alley in Dublin. Photo: Claudia Savage\/PA Images<\/p>\n
Spike Island is an island of 103 acres in Cork Harbour, off the coast of Cobh. It was an historical monastic settlement and was once used as a prison.<\/p>\n
Among the replies to this comment, one person said: “Can you fill it with shark infested water?” Another added: “Drop them 20km out at sea, anyone who makes it back can stay [followed with a laughter emoji]”.<\/p>\n
Someone who listed their employment as at the Department of Eduction wrote: “Absolutely, I think they should all be kept in one place until vetted and documented. I mean, would you let a stranger move into your house?”<\/p>\n
A response from someone who said they were an employee at Temple Street Children’s Hospital said: “Spike Island, back to Cork with mehole Martin.”<\/p>\n
Someone who listed their status as “retired from Irish Army”, wrote: “Portlaoise Prison is almost empty. Ideal.” An “Irish Naval Service veteran” said: “Out on the Blaskets.”<\/p>\n
An insurance company worker wrote: “All criminals, send them back.”<\/p>\n
A secondary school teacher from the Cork region said: “In the ocean.” An employee at Maynooth University said: “Just deport straight away.”<\/p>\n
Someone who listed themselves as a member of the Defence Forces said: “Send them all away on entry.”<\/p>\n
A responder who listed their role as volunteer at Alone, a charity for older people, wrote: “Not interned. Put on the first plane out of the country. They have sponged enough off the hard working Irish citizens.”<\/p>\n
Another who said they were a HSE carer stated: “Spike Island, all criminals.”<\/p>\n
Other comments on the post were too racist and violent in nature to re-publish.<\/p>\n