A notorious gangland figure caused pandemonium when he appeared at the Dublin count centre at the end of his unsuccessful bid to be elected to the Dail. Gerry Hutch is believed by police and Ireland’s Special Criminal Court to lead an international crime organisation, which is embroiled in a feud with the Kinahan gang that’s cost 18 lives so far.

Transfers could carry controversial candidate across the line, former Fianna Fáil leader and Dublin Central TD predicts

The alleged leader of the Hutch criminal organisation was followed around the counting centre in Dublin by a huge media scrum, as security staff struggled to keep control, and when he was asked if he would run again he said: "I've been running all my life,

The independent candidate, 61, was seen running away through the Royal Dublin Society car park being followed by the media.

The convicted Dublin criminal, also known as The Monk, received the fourth-highest first preference vote in the four-seat constituency with almost 10 per cent of the vote