Fianna Fail's Jim Gavin withdraws from Irish presidential race

"I made a mistake that was not in keeping with my character and the standards I set myself. I am now taking steps to address the matter, he said. I have also thought long and hard about the potential impact of the ongoing campaign on the wellbeing of my family and friends. Taking all these considerations onboard, I have decided to withdraw from the presidential election contest with immediate effect and return to the arms of my family."

"Gavin's exit also triggered a crisis for the taoiseach and Fianna Fail leader, Micheal Martin, who had staked his authority by selecting an untried candidate over the doubts of party colleagues. Martin said Gavin did not want to bring controversy to the presidency and was right to withdraw. Jim has accepted that he made an error in relation to an issue that has arisen in recent days."

Jim Gavin, 54, withdrew from Ireland's presidential election after revelations that he failed to return a €3,300 rent overpayment about 16 years ago while he was a landlord and in financial difficulty. Gavin described the episode as a mistake inconsistent with his character and said he would take steps to address the matter. He cited concerns about the campaign's impact on his family's wellbeing and announced immediate withdrawal. Gavin's exit narrowed the contest to Heather Humphreys (centre‑right Fine Gael) and Catherine Connolly (independent backed by Sinn Féin and small leftwing parties), and prompted a crisis for Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin.

Read at www.theguardian.com