A long-awaited review into the party’s failed presidential campaign was sent to members tonightKeith Barr, former Dublin and Erins Isle footballer is pictured at Erins Isle GAA Club(Image: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile)

Jim Gavin was first recommended to Fianna Fáil to run as it’s presidential candidate by Dublin footballing legend Keith Barr.

A long-awaited review into the party’s failed presidential campaign was sent to TDs and senator’s this evening. The former Dublin GAA boss sensationally quit the Áras race after it was revealed that he owed a former tenant €3,300.

The report outlines that on the week commencing June 9, Deputy Leader Jack Chambers was contacted by Mr Barr, suggesting Mr Gavin would make “a very fine candidate”. On June 15, Mr Gavin sent a text message requesting a meeting and a week later, Minister Chambers, Mr Gavin, Fianna Fáil’s General Secretary Sean Dorgan and Mr Barr had an informal meeting.

The former Dublin GAA manager met with the Taoiseach on July 21, and 11 days later informed Mr Dorgan that he would like to seek the nomination as Fianna Fáil’s presidential candidate. The report also revealed that Fianna Fáil’s deputy leader Jack Chambers was told of a potential issue Mr Gavin had with a tenant before he was selected as the party’s candidate.

The report details how the party’s director of elections, Mr Chambers, was informed of the issue a day before Fianna Fáil’s internal selection vote. Breaking events down into days, the report notes the following after September 8: “Deputy John Lahart sends a text message to Minister Chambers referencing a potential issue with a tenant who was a journalist and the return of a deposit. This text is sent to Mr Sean Dorgan (Fianna Fáil’s General Secretary) who puts it to Mr Gavin.”

On September 8, the report also notes: “Mr Fionnán Sheahan sends an email to Fianna Fáil including the following text: ‘[f]ollowing on from the request for an interview, would you mind letting me know when Jim Gavin will be responding to media queries,’.

“The email continued: ‘I have some specific questions I wish to put to him about property interests and a particular issue arising with a tenant when he was a landlord.’ Mr. Dorgan puts the matter to Mr. Gavin.”

In response to both of these queries from Fianna Fáil’s General Secretary, Mr Gavin said he had “no recollection of any such issues, of a deposit not having been returned, nor that he had a tenant who was a journalist”.

The report further stated that “nothing further was done”.

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