Fianna Fáil cancels draw to fund Jim Gavin's presidential campaign

All contributions to the national draw, which was slated to take place on October 29, will be refunded, a party spokesperson has told the 'Irish Examiner'

Since Jim Gavin stood down from the campaign last Sunday, Fianna Fáil has removed all of the former presidential candidate’s statements from the party’s website. File Picture: RollingNews.ie

Fianna Fáil has cancelled a national draw to fund its former presidential candidate Jim Gavin.

A party spokesperson confirmed the draw would no longer take place after Mr Gavin’s withdrawal from the campaign last Sunday. They added that all contributions made to the draw would be refunded.

Details of the draw remained online as late as Friday afternoon, before the page on the Fianna Fáil website was removed.

The draw was slated to take place on Wednesday, October 29, with an overall prize being a trip to New York City for two people on St Patrick’s Day. This would have been just days after the election, scheduled for October 24. Entrants could get a single ticket for €20 or three for €50.

Parties traditionally host draws as fundraisers for major election campaigns, including presidential campaigns.

Fianna Fáil had been expected to spend in the low six-figures on the presidential campaign.

However, with Mr Gavin’s withdrawal from the race, it is not expected the party will be able to have its campaign expenses reimbursed.

Presidential candidates are entitled to receive up to €200,000 back if they receive 25% of a quota.

Social media

Since Mr Gavin stood down from the campaign last Sunday, Fianna Fáil has removed all of the former presidential candidate’s statements from the party’s website.

This includes his speech at his campaign launch, which was delivered on September 28.

Alongside his removal from Fianna Fáil’s website, all of his social media accounts were deleted in the hours after he withdrew from the presidential campaign.

While Mr Gavin is no longer campaigning, he will remain on the presidential election ballot.

He withdrew amid controversy surrounding €3,300 in overpaid rent he did not repay to a former tenant, Niall Donald.

On Wednesday, Mr Gavin said he would repay Mr Donald once the former tenant clarified two issues.

“We have reached out to Mr Donald and explained to him that we have been instructed to make the payment of €3,300 to him subject to clarifying two issues — we await hearing back from Mr Donald and, once those two issues are clarified, we can then proceed to close out on the matter,” a legal representative for Mr Gavin said.

Mr Donald, the deputy editor of the Sunday World, confirmed he was the tenant at the centre of the controversy during the week on the Crime World podcast.