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%.

Oscar nominated director Jim Sheridan has been photographed in the RDS count centre in Dublin as Gerry Hutch remained in contention to win a seat in Dublin

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

Gerry ‘The Monk’ Hutch was in a battle royale to win a shock Dáil seat and rock the political establishment last night – but could find out he has a new arch nemesis by the name of Sherlock in a knife-edge race.

Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch is reportedly doing well in his Dublin Central constituency, as the election remains too close to call between the three main parties.

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, based off tallies.

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

With all boxes now tallied in the Dublin Central constituency, Independent candidate Gerard Hutch looks likely to be in contention for a seat with around 9% of first preference votes.