Dublin: Jim Gavin will remain on the ballot for the upcoming presidential election despite announcing his withdrawal from the race. The Presidential Returning Officer has confirmed that Gavin’s name will appear on the ballot paper and that any votes cast for him will be counted as valid.
Gavin shocked the political establishment late Sunday night when he announced his decision to withdraw following allegations that he defrauded a tenant of €3,300. However, his announcement came after the official withdrawal deadline of September 24, by which time all candidacy procedures had been finalised.
The ballot will therefore include the names of Independent candidate Catherine Connolly, Fine Gael’s Heather Humphreys, and Fianna Fáil’s Jim Gavin. Following legal consultation with the Attorney General, the Returning Officer confirmed that there was no provision to remove Gavin’s name post-deadline and that the vote count will proceed as normal.
Controversy Engulfs Fianna Fáil Leadership
Meanwhile, Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin is facing mounting internal criticism for nominating Gavin as the party’s presidential candidate. Party members accused Martin of damaging Fianna Fáil’s reputation by selecting a candidate who later became embroiled in a rent dispute scandal.
Martin’s claim that he was unaware of the rent issue has been challenged by Niamh McDonald, the complainant in the case, who said she had informed senior Fianna Fáil figures about the matter but received no response.
Martin defended his decision, saying that few within the party had shown interest in contesting the presidency before the summer recess. He also claimed that he only became aware of the rent allegations after speaking with Gavin, who denied any wrongdoing.
“I feel very sorry for him. This must be very traumatic for him,” Martin said, describing Gavin as “a man who has achieved a lot.”
However, senior Fianna Fáil members expressed deep frustration at a recent parliamentary party meeting, saying their opinions had not been sought before Gavin’s nomination. Many questioned the lack of due diligence in the selection process and criticised Martin for rejecting other potential candidates, including former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, former Minister Mary Hanafin, MEP Billy Kelleher, and campaigner Bob Geldof.
Several members described the episode as an embarrassment for the party and warned that it could trigger a leadership revolt. Despite Martin’s emotional address and apology during the meeting, party insiders say the “Jim Gavin affair” is likely to fuel growing dissent within Fianna Fáil in the coming weeks.
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