‘I fought to keep lights on in Gerry Hutch’s boxing club’ – Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon hits back at rival’s putdown

In an interview with the Sunday ­Independent, Hutch said local TDs had done nothing for the area.

"In the last few years, we've had four TDs, but we've had no representatives," he said. "They're politicians, but they're doing shag all. I mean, that's the way I look at it and that's the way the people in the community see it as well."

Hutch, who submitted his registration forms last week to run in the upcoming election, is the founder of Corinthians Boxing Club in Summerhill.

Social Democrats TD Mr Gannon said Hutch must not be aware of the work that had gone in to keep the boxing club going.

"Does Gerry Hutch know the work that I've had to do over the last number of years just to try get the money together to pay the electricity for his own boxing club?" Mr Gannon said.

"Gerry Hutch wants to be a ­politician. So, let's treat him like one. He talks about being a businessman who has all these assets all over the world. Does he know how much we've had to do just to keep the lights on in his own boxing club?

"I've had to go and talk to local businesses in the area, try to corral the council to come in and to provide some support for lights for equipment, punching bags. Gerry Hutch must not be aware of all of those things."

Mr Gannon said Hutch had failed to mention some of the crucial issues affecting the area such as the closure of a GP practice in Summerhill Primary Care Centre.

He added that the inner city was dealing with "trauma that is generational" and that it wouldn't be solved by someone pretending to be "some sort of saviour".

"The dogged work is what happens after all the cameras switch off, and we have to go into the community centres, we have to go into the youth clubs, trying to find funding, trying to talk about the needs," Mr Gannon said.​

He added he was happy to stand over his record as a TD in the area.

"If Gerry Hutch wants to be a ­political leader, ask him where he was for the last any number of years, particularly in terms of around his own immediate vicinity," Mr Gannon said.

"Look, I was born and raised in this area. Gerry Hutch decided to move himself out to Clontarf, so I'm happy to stand over my record in this community."

He added that he was willing to debate Hutch on the issues facing the constituency. "He's on the ballot paper now and I'm willing to debate him on the issues of the north of our city any time," Mr Gannon said.

He added that while there would be some support for Hutch in some parts of the constituency, "the odd door here and there", he believed voters wanted someone whose values they believed in.

Mr Gannon was speaking at the launch of the Social Democrats' education policy and said good role models started in the classroom. "Part of my love for education is it changed my life," he said. "What do I think addresses the real issues of the north of our city? It's access to positive role models. That starts in our classrooms. That's the type of politician I want to be."