Gerry Hutch's candidacy in the General Election is about him "taking back his city" from the Kinahans, Nicola Tallant has claimed. 

Earlier this month, Hutch returned from his home in Spain to stand as an independent candidate in the Dublin Central constituency.

'The Monk', as he is sometimes known, is currently on bail after his arrest in Lanzarote in October - following a Spanish investigation into allegations of money laundering by the Hutch Organised Crime Group. 

For years, the gang was mired in a notorious feud with the Kinahan cartel; in 2016, Kinahan associate David Byrne was shot dead in Dublin’s Regency Hotel and Hutch was charged with his murder in 2021. 

Last year, the Special Criminal Court found Hutch not guilty and he returned to Spain a free man. 

Jerry Hutch leaving the High Court in Dublin, 19/3/1999 Photo: RollingNews.ie

After interviewing Hutch on her Crime World podcast, journalist Nicola Tallant said she does not believe he is standing in order to escape extradition.

“He says he’s the people’s choice," she said.

“He’s definitely very connected and, definitely, there’s no doubt in my mind he’s very genuine about his love for the north inner city and his connection to it."

Ms Tallant said Hutch was approached to run for the election by the people in Dublin’s north inner city.

"I personally think it's about taking back his city," she said.

"When the Kinahan and Hutch feud kicked off, the Kinahans tried to take that from him and I think he's back to take it back."

Hutch interview

By interviewing the Monk on her podcast, Ms Tallant said she was never going to question him in the same way a Garda would.

"Giving him a profile, sitting down to talk to him, I sort of weighed it up – is there a point in me just trying to treat it like it’s a Garda interview?" she said.

"I’m not a Garda - I don’t have any intel on his activities.

"I don’t have this smoking gun that I can ask him any particular question and all of a sudden, in they come with the handcuffs - nor is that my job."

Hutch is standing in the four seat Dublin Central constituency against Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonad, Minister for Public Expenditure Paschal Donohoe, Neasa Hourigan of the Greens, Gary Gannon of the Social Democrats and former MEP Clare Daly.

You can find out Newstalk's full prediction for the Dublin Central constituency by listening to the Calling It podcast with Ivan Yates and Seán Defoe.

Featured image: Gerry Hutch leaving the Criminal Courts on 17/04/2023, Sasko Lazarov/RollingNews.ie