A reputed gang boss accused of sparking a bloody turf war in Dublin is running for election to Ireland’s parliament.

Gerard “The Monk” Hutch, who received his first conviction at the age of eight, is standing in the Dublin Central constituency, where he grew up.

The 61 year-old will battle for one of the four seats against candidates including Mary Lou McDonald, the president of Sinn Fein.

Among his other rivals is public expenditure minister and president of the Eurogroup of eurozone finance ministers Paschal Donohoe of the incumbent Fine Gael party.

Hutch is seen by some as a Robin Hood figure after he bought and donated a local boxing club to the inner city community.

Posters featuring Hutch have appeared in Dublin, which call him “the only man that can’t be paid off, just like Trump” and vow that he is ready to “take down the Irish government”.