Veteran criminal came close to winning fourth and final seat after getting almost 10 per cent of first preferences

GANG boss Gerry Hutch has failed to land a Dail seat as a nail-biting election race. The Monk, 61, was a shock contender in Dublin Central constituency and landed 3,098 first preference

The alleged crime boss had been tipped to take one of four seats in Dublin Central, but lost to Labour’s Marie Sherlock

Gerry “The Monk” Hutch said he would “consider” running again for the Dáil after he was beaten to the final seat in Dublin Central by Labour's Marie Sherlock

Newstalk’s political correspondent Sean Defoe is expecting Gerry Hutch to take the fourth seat adding, “The Monk will be a TD before all this is over”. Further down the tally, Labour’s Marie Sherlock is at 7.4%, Fianna Fáil’s Mary Fitzpatrick at 7.1% and Independent Malachy Steenson is at 4.8%.

All eyes are on Gerry Hutch in Dublin Central following Independent candidate Malachy Steenson’s elimination on Saturday evening

It’s now pretty much a two-way battle between Hutch and Labour’s Marie Sherlock for the fourth seat in the constituency.

There are four seats up for grabs in Dublin Central in what looks to be an intriguing race. Mary Lou McDonald and Paschal Donohoe are set to be re-elected but the other two seats are up for grabs, with Gerry ‘The Monk’ Hutch looking like he could take one,