Micheál Martin has admitted he knew of “gossip” about Jim Gavin’s tenant before his selection as Fianna Fáil’s Presidential candidate. 

The revelation that Mr Gavin owed a former tenant €3,300 led to the former GAA manager to dramatically quit the race and he polled a mere 7% of the vote. 

In the wake of the debacle, Fianna Fáil commissioned an internal party review which has now been published. 

On The Pat Kenny Show, Mr Martin said he was “sorry” for what happened and takes responsibility for the party’s worst election result in history. 

He said he had thought Mr Gavin had “prospects because of his background” in the Defence Forces, his work on the Citizens’ Assembly and charity work in the north inner city. 

“Any informal soundings I took with people who worked with him in all those different spheres were very, very positive about Jim Gavin capability, dependability,” he said. 

“So, that was the context.”

Micheál Martin shaking hands with Jim Gavin. Picture by: Eamonn Farrell/RollingNews.ie.

By contrast, Mr Martin said there was “very negative” feedback from the public about Bertie Ahern who had presidential ambitions “notwithstanding his outstanding role in achieving peace on the island of Ireland”. 

The report notes that Mr Gavin was asked whether he had had any issues with a tenant but denied that was the case. 

As party leader, Mr Martin was made aware of the allegation and Mr Gavin’s denial of it. 

“We can't go on gossip or rumours and lots of rumours come in about candidates - lots of queries come in,” he said. 

“But that was put to Jim Gavin; that was put to Jim Gavin.

“He said he never had an issue with a tenant, that was the response.”

Jim Gavin on a street election poster. Picture by: Brendan Donnelly / Alamy.

Mr Martin added that he believes Mr Gavin might not have remembered himself at the time as it was “something he might have buried in his own head”. 

Since then, Mr Gavin has returned to his job at Irish Aviation Authority. He has not returned the Taoiseach’s calls. 

“I've made attempts, but I haven't [spoken to him],” Mr Martin said. 

“I think he probably wants time out from it all and I can understand that, too, because it's a very difficult, traumatic period for him.

“He has achieved an awful lot in his life and this was a very difficult and traumatic experience for him.”

Jim Gavin. Picture by: Conor O'Mearain / Alamy.com.

Mr Martin admitted that many of his TDs are “very annoyed” and that he respected their right to criticise him. 

“The Fianna Fáil parliamentary party has always been a robust party,” he said. 

“There's been a very strong tradition of straight talking and that's important -  I've always tolerated that, by the way.

“I'm sorry for what happened and I take responsibility for what happened.

“Look, ultimately, the buck stops with me in relation to matters of this kind.”

Main image: Micheál Martin with Jim Gavin. Picture by: Eamonn Farrell/RollingNews.ie.