Longford Senator Joe Flaherty has said that he will still vote for Jim Gavin

Longford Senator Joe Flaherty has suggested that GAA legend Jim Gavin would have been a better president for gaining the trust of the loyalist community than the two current candidates and he will still be voting for him.

Mr Gavin, a six-time All Ireland winning manager with Dublin, dropped out of the race in controversial circumstances 10 days ago after it emerged he owed a tenant €3,300 dating back to 2009.

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Mr Gavin subsequently repaid the tenant last week.

Senator Flaherty said he is unsure how others in the party will cast their ballot, although reportedly a 'significant' number of Fianna Fáil Parliamentary Party members are expected to vote for Mr Gavin.

The party could still be entitled to a huge sum of money back, approximately €250,000 in expenses, in the unlikely event he gets 12.5% of the vote, however, there was no specific mention of that aspect by the Lanesboro native.

"Jim Gavin's name will still be on the ballot paper but also I feel it's a huge missed opportunity for Ireland, I feel he had the makings of a very good president.

Senator Flaherty said there been no direction from party leadership as regards who to vote for and he has reached his own decision.

"I suppose you could say that we don't technically have a candidate, and I can't tell Fianna Fáil members what to do.
"They will make up their own minds."

However, Senator Flaherty was largely dismissive of the prospects of Heather Humphreys and Catherine Connolly improving relations with the loyalist community.

"I think we are at a critical time in Ireland's history.

"As we look towards Irish unity, I think we needed an energetic and level-headed first citizen who would be able to bring, in particular, the loyalist and unionist communities of Northern Ireland closer towards a unity referendum in Northern Ireland.

"We would have seven years to work on that if we had a strong presidential candidate.

"I don't feel that either of the two remaining candidates will curry favour or will be able to gain the trust of the loyalist community, and that is a concern and a huge missed opportunity.

Asked about Heather Humphreys being an Ulster woman and the fact she is from a Presbyterian background Senator Flaherty referred to Mary McAleese's tenure as president.

"She appointed several emissaries, many of whom worked covertly from the south with loyalist leaders in Northern Ireland.

"Many of those links and ties continue to this day, and they're an important conduit.

"I think it's fair to say that the loyalist community don't trust British establishments or government, and while it would be extremely wary of the south as well, I think the loyalist and unionist community in particular have suffered greatly because of the Good Friday Agreement."

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"I'm a Republican, I'm a constitutional Republican, and I'm determined and adamant to see a United Ireland in my lifetime, but we'll only see a United Ireland in our lifetime if we get a successful unity poll that can't be triggered unless the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland decides to trigger such a referendum.