Dublin Central General Election 2024 updates: Gerry Hutch ...

Seats filled: 0

1.57pm

Social Democrats candidate Gary Gannon has said he is humbled by the vote in Dublin Central.

“I'm humbled and also determined to vindicate that over the course of the next five years. We've done a massive amount of work in Dublin Central. In terms of the work that we are doing on the ground, the strength of conviction we have bringing through issues in the Dail that was really starting to come back for us, and we were picking up a lot of momentum in Dublin Central. And I think today you'll see the results of that,” he said.

Asked about the effect that Gerry Hutch had being on the ballot paper, Gannon said it was something that “none of us expected”.

“He came in and he got a lot of media with this announcement, and that's going to be expected. But I think, for me, it's not just about what happens and who takes the fourth seat. I think it's a reflection of the fact that there's a lot of hurt, there's a huge amount of pain. I mean, that period of austerity in 2011 to 2016 destroyed the fabric of communities, and you're still seeing the tentacles of that now,” he added.

“I appreciate what the headlines will be today and tomorrow, but I do encourage everybody to go beyond them and look deeper. Because when people are hurting to the extent that they are in, some of the communities that I represent the length and breadth of Ireland, and you're going to see outcries of that, and it'll manifest in different ways. And I think we're seeing one manifestation of that today,” he said.

Asked if he thought the Hutch vote was a protest vote he said he didn’t think so.

Soc Dems leader Holly Cairns gave birth to her first baby yesterday as the nation went to the polls, and Gary Gannon was delighted for her.

“For me, I just want to say how in awe I am of Holly Cairns. She's not only our leader, she's my friend. She is somebody that has took the reins of this party two exceptional TDs in Catherine Murphy and Roisin Shortall, and she's really brought us on,” he explained.

Regarding future plans and possible negotiations for government, he said the next step is to see exactly what's in the boxes.

1.30pm

Independent candidate Malachy Steenson has said it looks like Mary Lou McDonald will take the first seat in Dublin Central, followed by Paschal Donohoe, and Gary Gannon for the Social Democrats will take the third seat. The battle for fourth seat could be between Gerry Hutch (Ind), Marie Sherlock (Lab) and Mary Fitzpatrick (FF) in his opinion.

He thinks Sherlock may take it on likely transfers.

The Monk is in the mix as Malachy Steenson gives his view on the tallies from Dublin Central

“It’s a disappointing day for the Nationalist movement but it shows what acres of media coverage can do for a celebrity candidate,” he said in reference to Gerry Hutch’s entry.

“The media have to look at the role they have played in this election in excluding people they didn’t agree with. Sadly, the people will pay the price,” he told the Irish Independent.

12pm

With practically all the boxes tallied in Dublin Central the news of the day is how well convicted criminal Gerry Hutch has polled.

From the outset he was doing well on tally sheets from his own inner city areas like North Strand, and there was an expectation among some of the tally crews that this would change as more boxes were opened.

But his vote was strong across the city, and when it comes to the first count he looks destined to come fourth.

Transfers in later counts will erode this, but the fact that he has featured so strongly has surprised many.

Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald will top the poll on around 20pc it appears, followed by Fine Gael’s Paschal Donohoe on around 17pc.

Gary Gannon of the Social Democrats is polling in third place at 13pc followed by Hutch on 9pc.

The fact that Hutch entered the race in the first place will have hurt the ambitions of right wing candidate Malachy Steenson, and Independent 4 Change Clare Daly, who are in ar around the 5pc mark.

The Green Party’s Neasa Hourigan’s ambitions to retain her seat appeare to have taken a bruising, with the tallies indicating 6pc of the vote.

Transfers will play around with the placings a lot, but this constituency is one to watch today.