Bertie Ahern says he 'could have won' presidency
James Cox
Former taoiseach Bertie Ahern has insisted he "could have won" the presidency as Fianna Fáil candidate following Jim Gavin's disastrous campaign.
Mr Gavin withdrew from the race after a tenant claimed he tried to recover €3,300 in overpaid rent from Mr Gavin 16 years ago.
Fianna Fáil has since announced a review of its procedure for candidate selection in presidential elections.
Senior counsel Ciaran O'Loughlin, Fianna Fáil senator Margaret Murphy O'Mahony and Fianna Fáil TDs Eamon Scanlon and Tom Brabazon will chair the review.
Speaking to Newstalk, Mr Ahern said: "I've been in all 32 counties... I've done various functions from big to small, you have to believe you could have won.
"I felt this was my time. I'm 74, you weren't going to get another chance and that was it."
Mr Ahern said he was disappointed with Taoiseach Micheál Martin, adding that he should have been informed earlier that he would not be in the running for the party's nomination.
"If they didn't want me, they had an opportunity to tell me anywhere between Christmas and Easter.
"Then I had the choice of whether to run as an independent or not."
He also expressed sympathy for Mr Gavin, who he called a "fine person".
"Back in August, after I got over my own trials and tribulations, I should have spent the last month out for Jim Gavin... who I know well, a fine person. [He] always was kind to me and very kind to my county. I would have gladly been out for September working for him on the ground.
"They're difficult campaigns... but I wish Jim well and his family well going forward because Jim is a fine fella."
Meanwhile, Mr Martin has said the presidential election is still "all to play for".
That is despite Catherine Connolly holding a commanding 18 point lead over Heather Humphreys in Thursday's Irish Times/Ipsos poll.
Voting will be underway this time next week in the race to be the next president.
The Taoiseach said he will be supporting Heather Humphreys - and believes she still has a shot.
"Polls don't determine elections, the real poll is on next week. I think we know from previous presidential elections that the outcome varied significantly from the polling in advance of it... so anything can happen over the next week in that regard.
"That would be my observation of it, I think it's all to play for."
