Micheál Martin put ‘extensive pressure’ on Fianna Fáil TDs to back Jim Gavin

Fianna Fáil TD James O’Connor criticises party leadership, saying intense pressure and poor judgment led to Jim Gavin’s failed presidential bid

Micheál Martin with Jim Gavin walking out of Leinster House. Picture: Eamonn Farrell/© RollingNews.ie

Jim Gavin has experienced the “most unceremonious dumping on a party candidate in modern Irish political history” and should “never have found himself on the ballot paper” for the presidential election, a Cork Fianna Fáil TD has said.

James O’Connor, TD for Cork East, said party leadership made a “serious miscalculation” by not listening to members, accusing Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Fianna Fáil deputy leader Jack Chambers of putting “extensive pressure" on the parliamentary party to back Mr Gavin.

Mr Gavin withdrew from the presidential race on Sunday following reports that he had failed to repay a tenant €3,300 in rent overpayments made in 2009. He also admitted he had not registered the property with the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB).

In a statement on Tuesday morning, hours before Budget 2026 was due to be announced, Mr O’Connor issued a strongly worded call for Fianna Fáil to explain how Mr Gavin’s candidacy was handled.

“Six weeks ago, Jim Gavin was a private citizen and an Irish sporting hero with a passionate commitment to community and the GAA,” he said. 

“Sixteen years ago, Jim Gavin failed to repay overpaid rent to a young couple. A mistake he regrets. One that has cost him massive national embarrassment. Mr Gavin will now go and privately put right the grave mistakes of 2009.

“Meanwhile, Fianna Fáil must now quickly and resolutely address our mistakes and political misjudgments of the past six weeks.

James O’Connor, TD for Cork East, said party leadership made a “serious miscalculation” by not listening to members. Picture: Stephen Collins/Collins Photos

“I, along with many colleagues, believed nominating Jim Gavin was a serious risk. Our reason: his glaring lack of any campaigning or political experience.

“We know, from the past few Irish Presidential campaigns, that incidents and errors of the past emerge and hurt even the best of candidates.

“The experienced leadership of Fianna Fáil should have taken the concerns of a huge mass of the Fianna Fáil party seriously. It made a serious miscalculation in not doing so.

“Jim Gavin should have never found himself on the ballot paper. He was there due to the extensive pressure put on Fianna Fáil TDs and Senators by Micheál Martin and Jack Chambers.

“They repeatedly phoned each member of the parliamentary party in the days before the selection convention on the 9th of September.

“I regret the treatment bestowed on Mr Gavin and his family in the past two days. Elevating him one day and then throwing him under a bus the next, has to be the most unceremonious dumping on a party candidate in modern Irish political history.

“It is clear from what we have learned over the past 48 hours that Gavin was very poorly advised on how to handle this matter. We owe it to him, his former tenant, to the members of Fianna Fáil, and most of all to the public, to fully explain how that happened and then ensure it is never repeated.” 

Mr Martin and Mr Chambers are now facing increased scrutiny from Fianna Fáil colleagues, with several saying their leadership positions could be under threat.

The parliamentary party will meet in Leinster House on Wednesday, where it is expected that angry members will question the leadership at length about the controversy.