Peter Casey nomination may narrow presidential field

The 24-hour surge that propelled businessman Peter Casey on to the ballot paper for the presidential election has raised the slim prospect of a seventh candidate being nominated.

Mr Casey became the sixth candidate in the race for the Áras after he was endorsed by Tipperary County Council and by Limerick Council yesterday. It followed on from nominations he secured from councillors in Clare and Kerry on Monday.

Mr Casey, a Co Derry-born businessman, is also the third Dragons’ Den panellist to be nominated after Seán Gallagher and Gavin Duffy both secured endorsements. The other candidates expected are outgoing president Michael D Higgins (who has yet to nominate himself); Senator Joan Freeman and Sinn Féin MEP Liadh Ní Riada.

The nominations close in a week’s time, on September 26th. To be nominated, an individual requires the backing of four local authorities or of 20 Oireachtas members.

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In Tipperary Mr Casey won the support of 13 councillors, while journalist Gemma O’Doherty was backed by eight. He was backed by a mix of Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and Independent members.

‘Ploughing competition’

“I’m so excited to get, now, into the race proper,” Mr Casey said after the vote. “I thought it would work out this way, I was the last person into the race and I knew I would be the last one to get over the line. It’s a big relief. I can go to the ploughing competition tomorrow and relax.”

Ms O’Doherty said she intended to seek the support of the remaining councils. However, only six councils have yet to make final determinations. They include Donegal, South Dublin, and Kildare; and both Louth and Monaghan councils are said to be willing to convene special meetings before the deadlines if nominations are received; while Longford is also expected to make a decision later.

It is a long shot for Ms O’Doherty who has campaigned against State corruption and whose claims about State involvement in the death of Veronica Guerin have been angrily rejected by the family of the late investigative journalist.

The other possible route open is through the Oireachtas. Independent TD for Roscommon-Galway Michael Fitzmaurice has said he is confident he can gather the support of 20 TDs and Senators, if a suitable candidate emerges.

During his presentation to councillors in Tipperary, Mr Casey spoke of the importance of reaching out to the diaspora as there are more than 70 million people worldwide who call themselves Irish.

He reiterated his view that the president’s expenses should be made public, that a president should not be allowed to nominate himself or herself for re-election and that the presidency should have a five-year term with elections taking place at the same time as local authority elections.

‘Three businessmen’

Ms O’Doherty told councillors she “would worry about the fact now that we have three businessmen going forward into this race, with pretty much the same track record”.

She also told councillors that her concerns include free speech, a free press, homelessness, healthcare, truth and justice.

“We do not have a free press in Ireland and this is deeply damaging to democracy. There are influences now within Irish society which threaten free speech and threaten press freedom.”

It also emerged the late Ms Guerin’s sister emailed all members of Kerry County Council last week asking them not to support Ms O’Doherty’s bid. Claire O’Brien, who lives in Tralee, said Ms O’Doherty’s comments were outrageous, scurrilous, hurtful and offensive.