Irish presidential race rocked by withdrawal and smear claims

People walk past a mural of Catherine Connolly by artist Emmalene Blake on South Dock Road in Dublin, as counting continues in Ireland’s presidential election to replace Michael D Higgins, who has served the maximum two seven-year terms (Niall Carson/PA) Niall Carson

Ireland's presidential election proved to be an unusually turbulent campaign that focused more on personal controversies than major policy issues. The race began with just three candidates for the first time in 35 years, before one dramatic withdrawal left voters with only two choices for the first time in half a century.

Catherine Connolly secured an expected landslide victory, while the campaign saw a significant surge in spoiled votes. The election was marked by allegations of smear tactics and various personal controversies that dominated the political discourse.

Gavin's shock withdrawal

The most dramatic moment came when Fianna Fáil's presidential candidate Jim Gavin withdrew from the race just three weeks before polling day. The former army pilot and Dublin football manager, who had led the team to five successive All-Ireland Championships, pulled out following revelations about a 16-year-old tenant dispute.

Niall Donald, deputy editor of the Sunday World and a former tenant, claimed he had tried to recover 3,300 euros in overpaid rent from Gavin 16 years earlier. Gavin admitted in an October 5 statement that he had made a mistake "not in keeping with my character" and later repaid the money.

Allegations of smear tactics

The campaign became increasingly heated with accusations of deliberate smear attempts against Connolly. Former Fine Gael minister Ivan Yates sparked controversy when he said on his podcast that Fine Gael needed to respond to opinion polls showing Connolly ahead by making attempts to "smear the bejaysus" out of her.

Connolly said she was "absolutely shocked" and that he had "trivialised" the campaign. She also claimed he had "done me a favour… in that he's absolutely exposed without hesitation what Fine Gael are up to". Fine Gael candidate Heather Humphreys denied operating a smear campaign, saying her questions were "legitimate" but not "nasty".

Controversial appointments and past connections

Connolly faced repeated questions about her judgement in hiring a woman who had been convicted by the Special Criminal Court for firearms possession and was a member of anti-peace process party Éirígí. The woman worked for six months on an Irish language committee while Garda clearance was pending, with daily access to the Houses of the Oireachtas.

Humphreys questioned Connolly during debates about whether she had asked the woman "what she was going to use the guns for". Connolly defended the appointment, calling the woman a "model" prisoner and an example of successful rehabilitation.

Connolly also addressed questions about a 2018 Syria visit while serving as a Galway TD, where she encountered supporters of then-president Bashar Assad. According to The Irish Times, one man she met was a leader of a group charged with killing Palestinians in a refugee camp, though Connolly said she was unaware of this.

Personal criticisms and professional backgrounds

Humphreys faced scrutiny over her response to constituent Lucia O'Farrell, whose son Shane was killed by a car driven by a man who should have been in jail. O'Farrell criticised the former Cabinet minister's level of support for her campaign for justice and calls for a public inquiry.

The candidates' professional backgrounds also became a point of contention. Humphreys told the Sunday Independent she "never tried to capitalise on somebody's misfortune and to make money out of it", referencing Connolly's work as a barrister during the economic crash representing financial institutions.

Viral moments and social media warfare

A lighter moment that gained significant traction was footage of Connolly playing football and basketball with children at Dublin's Courtney Place Flats. The clip garnered 185,000 likes on Sinn Féin's TikTok and prompted supporters to endorse her while performing football solos.

Both campaigns waged intensive social media battles, with Connolly's team particularly targeting young voters through creative content encouraging "polling day mate dates" and organising youth canvasses. Humphreys' campaign focused on endorsements from political heavyweights including former taoiseach Enda Kenny.

The candidates who never were

The election saw a parade of potential candidates who ultimately never made it to the ballot. Mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor withdrew hours before addressing Dublin City Council, calling the Irish constitution a "straitjacket". Riverdance star Michael Flatley and weather forecaster Joanna Donnelly also initially expressed interest.

Live Aid campaigner Bob Geldof spoke to Taoiseach Micheál Martin about becoming the Fianna Fáil nominee, while Dr Tony Holohan, the chief medical officer during Covid-19, ruled himself out citing family concerns. Several others, including Maria Steen and Gareth Sheridan, failed to gather the required nominations from local authorities or parliament members.

Sources used: "PA Media" Note: This article has been created with Artificial Intelligence (AI).