Following a shock withdrawal from presidential candidate late last night, Gráinne Glynn explores the situation.
Fianna Fáil’s presidential candidate Jim Gavin has announced that he is withdrawing from the Irish presidential election with immediate effect, following reports concerning an unregistered tenancy and an unresolved rent overpayment dispute dating back to 2009.
In a statement issued on Sunday evening, Gavin states that recent days had given him “cause to reflect” and that he had made “a mistake that was not in keeping with my character and the standards I set myself”. Gavin, the former Dublin football manager, was one of three candidates due to contest the presidency, alongside Independent TD Catherine Connolly and Fine Gael’s Heather Humphreys.
Gavin’s decision follows reports in the Irish Independent that a former tenant havd overpaid him €3,300 in rent due to a banking error while renting an apartment he owned in Dublin’s north inner city between 2007 and 2009. The tenant alleged that the overpayment was never refunded, despite several attempts to contact Gavin after the standing order continued to transfer rent payments even after the tenancy ended. The Independent also reported that the property had not been registered with the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB), as required by law since 2004.
When questioned about the matter during RTÉ’s Presidential Election Debate earlier on Sunday, Gavin said the issue dated back 16 years and had occurred during a “very stressful time” for his family. “If it happened, I’m very sorry that it happened,” he said. “I’m looking into it and will deal with urgency”. He later told reporters he was “still gathering the data” about the incident, describing it as “part of my life that I left behind”. Gavin confirmed that he had not registered the property with the RTB but said, “it was a new law at the time and the majority of people didn’t register their properties”.
Taoiseach and Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin said he fully understood and supported Gavin’s decision, describing it as “the correct one”. “Jim has accepted that ha made an error in relation to an issue that has arisen in recent days.” Taoiseach Martin stated that Gavin is “clear that he does not want to bring controversy on to this office”. He also praised Gavin’s long-standing record of public service, noting that his “commitment to service and helping others has always (...), defined his character and his great standing with the public”.
Mr Gavin’s withdrawal leaves the presidential race between Fine Gael’s Heather Humphreys and Independent TD Catherine Connolly. The election is due to take place on October 24th, leaving Gavin’s name on the ballot however not being a competing candidate. Fianna Fáil has not yet confirmed whether it will nominate a replacement candidate with so little time left in the race.