Home run for Gerry Hutch – but will it be enough for victory?

Homelessness was one of the main issues we encountered on the streets of the constituency which includes most of the north inner city and some of the south inner city, but also middle-class areas like Drumcondra and Phibsboro, as well as working class areas such as Cabra and Ballybough.

While political observers expect Hutch to do well in the socially deprived inner-city area of the Dublin Central constituency, the Sunday World found a surprising number of people in middle class areas in the rest of the electoral area prepared to vote for him.

Shoo-ins for re-election are sitting TDs Sinn Féin leader McDonald and Fine Gael Minister for Public Enterprise Donohoe.

But it’s the last two seats that are up for grabs, with sitting TDs Social Democrats’ Garry Gannon and the Green Party’s Neasa Hourigan vying for contention with an interesting array of other candidates.

Besides Hutch throwing his hat in the ring, others who are in the running include Fianna Fáil’s Mary Fitzpatrick, the Labour Party’s Maria Sherlock, far right Independent Malachy Stenson.

Feisty leftist Clare Daly, who recently lost her MEP seat, has also parachuted in from her previous home of Fingal.

Most people we tried to ask about the election on the streets of Dublin Central, in both Phibsboro and in the north inner city, were mainly hostile and did not want to comment. Those that did were mixed in their views, with many declining to be photographed.

“Pensioners are fairly well looked after and we’re getting a bit of an increase in January,” said James ‘Seamus’ Darcy (81), a single man and retired cabinet maker from Phibsboro. He is unsure who he vote for.

“It’s open to everybody, I even see the Hutch boy coming in too (laughs). I don’t think he’ll get in, it will only be his friends voting for him. Sure, he lives in Spain, doesn’t he?”

Fellow pensioner Rita Flynn (79) is angry at the homelessness problem and, in particular, the plight of Irish citizens.

“What about our homeless. The Irish people, they never look after the Irish people, they look after every other foreigner that comes into the country,” she says.​

“Mary Lou is good. Gerry Hutch? I’m delighted. I think I’d give him a vote. Why not give him a chance. ”

Tesco manager James Galligan (38) hails from Cabra, is single, has a child.

“Obviously the housing crisis is one of the issues you have to look at. Homelessness concerns me also. I wouldn’t be able to buy my own house right now,” he says.

“I’d be more swinging towards Independent. Hutch will definitely be in my top three. He has a bit of a colourful past, but who doesn’t. People deserve a second chance. He’s done his time. He deserves a chance to do something for us, be a man of the people.”

Project manager Gillian Cosgrove lives in Drumcondra, having originally from Cabra.

“Housing and homelessness would be top of my list, followed by the cost of living,” she says.

“I’m kind of hard pressed to vote for any of them. I like Clare Daly I think she’s fairly honest. She is very big on animal rights.”

Gillian wants to “give Simon Harris a chance” and as for Hutch “No, I wouldn’t even be looking into him, it’s a farce.”

Laura Browne (40) lives with her parents in Drumcondra.

She is dismissive of most politicians.

“None of the politicians came to our door,” she says. “Mary Lou would be the only one I’d really know, that’s because her voice being heard.”

She’s not familiar with either Daly or Gannon. As for Hutch: “I’d consider it but not a preference as of yet.”

Gerry Flynn (72) is a retired electrical technician and father-of-two.

“The number one is the cost of living and inflation. Inflation is coming down, but the prices aren’t,” he says.

“The housing thing doesn’t bother me too much as I have my own house. But it does bother me that in cold weather like this there’s thousands of people without a home.”

He knows who he’s voting for.“I think we need a change,” he says.

“I’m more than likely going to be voting for Sinn Féin, Mary Lou McDonald. I’d like her to be a Taoiseach.”

Daly? “I’d vote for her.”

Hutch? “He wouldn’t be a realistic candidate… I wouldn’t consider voting for him.”

Julie McDonagh (39) is a Traveller who originally hails from Ballyfermot, lives in a homeless shelter in Phibsboro and is aware of some of the candidates.

“A lot of people say Gerry Hutch. I know of him, but I don’t know him too well,” she says. “I might vote for him. I believe he wants to help the homeless and get drugs out of the country.

“Mary Lou, I might give her a vote. There’s people dying on the streets and they don’t care about the homelessness.”

Tattoo artist Tara Martin is originally from Bray but has been living in the Parnell Street area for 20 years.

“The safety on the streets,” is what concerns me. There’s a few I’d keep my eye on. I’m interested to see what Gerry (Hutch) would do. He’d be my No1.”

Graduate student Nadia Smith lives near Talbot Street and is concerned about safety on the city’s streets.

“There’s a lot of violence around and there should be more gardaí,” she complains. “Housing, homelessness, drug use also concern me.”

She’s a Sinn Féin supporter and would give their two candidates her top two preferences. As for Gerry Hutch, “definitely not. He’s been on the run for a while.”

Hotel worker and mum-of-one Sandra Jurjane is originally from Latvia but has been living here nearly 20 years. Asked if she knew of any of the candidates, she replies: “I know of Gerry Hutch. He might do something good.”

Sean McGregor, who is homeless, adds: “I’d support no-one, except maybe ‘The Monk’.”

His homeless pal John Murphy concurs.

“Gerry is an ordinary decent criminal, he deserves a chance.”

But not everyone feels that the veteran criminal is a guaranteed poll topper in his native north inner city.

“People might expect Gerry Hutch to sweep up votes in his home patch of the inner city – but there’s an awful lot who won’t vote for him because they’re on the side of the Kinahans.”