FIANNA FÁIL’S DEPUTY leader Jack Chambers has defended the party’s vetting process following Jim Gavin’s sudden withdrawal from the presidential race, despite acknowledging that his account of a rental dispute was later contradicted by his former tenant.

Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, Chambers confirmed that documents supplied by the tenant proved the “veracity” of claims that Gavin had failed to return rent overpayments dating back to 2009.

Chambers, Fianna Fáil’s director of elections, said the information provided was “contrary to what the party had been told” by Gavin only a day earlier.

“On Thursday, a press query was made to the party, and that was answered on Friday, following engagement with Jim,” Chambers said.

“At that time, he said he had no record or recollection of the particular issue that was set out in the article on Saturday.

“Subsequently, on Saturday, the tenant in question contacted the party and said that they did have records relating to this particular issue, and that was contrary to what the party had been told and what had been said on Friday,” he added.

Chambers said Gavin later located partial records confirming the dispute.

“The contradiction between what was said on Friday and what emerged reflects the seriousness of this,” he said.

Describing the situation as “hugely disappointing,” Chambers said Gavin had made the correct decision to pull out of the race on Sunday night.

The controversy followed a report in the Irish Independent alleging that Gavin failed to return €3,300 in rent overpayments and had not registered the property with the Residential Tenancies Board, as required by law.

Earlier on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, Fianna Fáil MEP Billy Kelleher criticised the party’s selection process, accusing the leadership of “multiple failures” and a lack of proper scrutiny.

Kelleher, who had contested for the Fianna Fáil nomination, described the episode as a “serious miscalculation” that can’t be “swept under the carpet.”

Chambers rejected that claim, insisting the party had carried out “extensive and robust” due diligence in relation to their selection of Gavin.

“We’ll have a broader discussion and reflection on what has emerged,” he said, adding that a broader discussion would follow within the party.

Pressed on whether he would accept responsibility as director of elections, Chambers declined to comment directly.

“I’m extremely disappointed, like many in the party, about what has emerged,” he said.

“Look, we had a democratic process which in which Jim Gavin came through…  I think everyone engaged in good faith regarding his candidacy and the campaign that followed.”

Chambers said that Taoiseach Micheál Martin retained the full backing of Fianna Fáil, despite his role in backing Gavin’s candidacy.

“Obviously this matter, as I said, was never disclosed [by Gavin], and his position on Friday was consistent on that, and that no recollection or issue relating to a tenant was disclosed to the party,” he said.

“When the tenant contacted the party on Saturday, that contradiction became absolutely clear.”

And I think that’s why I think that’s why I think Jim Gavin has made the right decision. Chambers added that Martin “will continue to have the full support of our parliamentary party.”

He said Fianna Fáil would “review and reflect” on the events of the past 48 hours but insisted the party remained united.

“It has been a devastating few days,” he said, “but the right decisions were made once the facts emerged.”