Fianna Fáil TDs and Senators were “pressured” into backing Gavin, TD claims

Cork TD James O’Connor has claimed that Fianna Fáil TDs and Senators were “pressured” into backing Jim Gavin for the Presidency, in a move that indicates a growing rebellion in Fianna Fáil ranks against Taoiseach Micheál Martin and his deputy leader, Jack Chambers.

In a statement on Twitter on Tuesday, O’Connor, who was first elected to the Dáil in 2020, became the second sitting Fianna Fáil member to criticise Micheál Martin and his decision to back Jim Gavin for the Áras.

“Six weeks ago, Jim Gavin was a private citizen and an Irish sporting hero; sixteen years ago, Jim Gavin failed to repay overpaid rent to a young couple, which is a mistake he regrets and has cost him massive national embarrassment.”

O’Connor said that as a result of the scandal, “Fianna Fáil must quickly act and address our mistakes,” while also shedding light on why the party picked Gavin.

Gavin secured the nod after beating the only other candidate, former TD and incumbent MEP Billy Kelleher, by a secret ballot of 41-29.

The Dublin wing of the party, namely Jack Chambers, Paul McAuliffe and Jim O’Callaghan, were vocal in their support for Gavin, and the Dublin wing of the party (along with Martin’s backing) played a large part in Gavin securing the nomination.

Now, it appears a rebellion is brewing within Martin’s own backyard of Cork.

O’Connor claimed “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 before the selection convention on September 9th.”

Kelleher is understood to have been seen as the favourite of the rural wing of the party, with his 22 years as a TD in Cork and six years as an MEP seen as highly desirable for a certain cohort of Fianna Fáil.

The elevation of Gavin to the role of candidate is understood to have been a calculated risk by Fianna Fáil, with their successful backing of Mary McAleese in 1997 seen as the template to follow (someone who never served in elected office, a well-respected individual from civilian life).

Yesterday, MEP Barry Andrews implied that director of election Jack Chambers did not do his due diligence on making sure there were no skeletons in Gavin’s closet in an interview with RTÉ.

Veteran TD Éamon Ó Cuív, who was a TD for the party for over 30 years, also said that Martin was “past his sell-by date” as party leader and his handling of the Gavin affair raises serious questions about his time as leader.

With today’s Budget now overshadowed by a brewing war within Fianna Fáil, the intervention by O’Connor now ensures the spotlight is off the Budget and on the Fianna Fáil machine.