Candidates in the Dublin Central byelection have criticised comments on immigration by Independent candidate and gangland figure Gerry Hutch, with one rival describing them as “absolutely racist”.
In a social media post over the weekend Hutch, who came close to claiming the fourth and final seat in the constituency in the 2024 general election, said “illegal immigrants” who were “mooching” their way into the country should be interned in the Curragh.
People Before Profit’s Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin said the comments were “absolutely racist” while Ruth O’Dea of the Labour Party said Hutch’s comments were “despicable”.
Sinn Féin’s candidate Cllr Janice Boylan said her party’s position on immigration is there is a need for reform and a “very fair”, very equal” and “very enforced system”.
She described Hutch’s comments as “out of order as far as I’m concerned” but added: “I’m concentrating on what we’re hearing on the doors… and not very much on any other candidates.”
Meanwhile, speaking at Boylan’s launch, party leader Mary Lou McDonald said people want to know that Ireland’s immigration system that is “fair”, “efficient” and that “decisions are enforced”.
In a reference to Hutch’s remarks added: “I’m not sure that there is any big appetite for big congregated settings anywhere in the Curragh or anywhere else.”
McDonald also said: “We can’t comment on other people’s comments” and “we’re very much focused on our own campaign”.
In the social media post, Hutch, who was being interviewed by Dublin city councillor Gavin Pepper in the Corinthians Boxing Club in the city centre, said immigrants were coming into the country from Britain and France “because it’s a freebie and they’re getting paid”.
“I think they should be all interned, they should be put in the Curragh camp until they’re sorted, and fed, not given any money, not given any houses.”
Hutch appeared to draw a distinction between different nationalities as well as migrants in the workforce, mentioning Indians when he said genuine people were “more than welcome” and to “bring your toolbox” as migrant workers were needed because Irish people had “gone too posh” to do certain types of jobs.
“We don’t want our kids working in McDonald’s, we need foreign workers for them type of jobs, whether we like it or not, we’re gone too posh.”
Mentioning “the ones that are Somalians and them type of people”, he said “the illegal ones, feed them, put them on the boat and send them back.”
Asked about the comments at his campaign launch in Dublin on Tuesday, People Before Profit candidate Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin said the comments were “absolutely racist”.
“Gerry Hutch is trying to basically pander to a sentiment that is around but that I don’t think is the overwhelming sentiment of people in the inner city.”
“This is basically a way of dividing people and it’s something that we should be absolutely opposed to.”
Ó Ceannabháin said the Government was to blame for creating the homelessness crisis and resulting in hundreds of asylum seekers sleeping rough.
“This rhetoric from Hutch, but also from others, opens up this space for people to be attacked and I think we need to absolutely oppose it and actually try to unite people on the basis of a fight on housing and a fight on cost of living.”
The Labour Party’s candidate Ruth O’Dea said she was “horrified” by Hutch’s comments which she described as “despicable”.
She also said: “I reject that absolutely [the idea of internment] and I’m absolutely disgusted by that comment.”
O’Dea continued: “We do not have detention without trial, and those days are long gone, and thank God, so for him to say that is just outrageous.”
O’Dea was speaking as the Labour Party launched proposals for a €3 million pilot programme for a “Safe Fund” aimed at helping women trying to exit a violent relationship.
Meanwhile, Green Party candidate in Dublin Central Janet Horner said Hutch’s comments on immigration “are prejudiced, harmful, and straight out of the Donald Trump playbook”.
She said people coming to Ireland seeking refuge are entitled to be treated with the same dignity and respect as everyone else, and should not be singled out on nationality, race or any other factor.
“Dublin Central deserves someone with real solutions, rather than hateful soundbites that are intended to sow division and fear. Hutch’s comments show that after his decades in Spain he’s completely disconnected from the communities in Dublin Central,” she said.
“There’s no place for this rhetoric in politics, and I know the people of Dublin Central will show this when they roundly reject him and other far right voices at the ballot box.”
