Gallagher 'Up To His Neck In FF' Says McGuinness

In what is being hailed as one of the 'harshest' attacks of the presidential campaign, candidate Martin McGuinness has accused the race 'frontrunner' Sean Gallagher of being up to his neck in Fianna Fail(FF).

"There’s no doubt that some people would say Seán has been up to his neck in Fianna Fáil," Mr McGuinness said during a live radio/online debate this afternoon hosted by Newstalk and Google.

During the debate McGuinness threw accusations at Gallagher arguing that it was Gallagher’s party that ruined the economy.

He said: "Sean Gallagher’s party wrecked the economy, destroyed the economy, brought about mass unemployment and immigration."

Mr McGuinness said that voters must decide whether they want a representative of an establishment party elected to the Aras.

Mr Gallagher defended himself against the attack saying that he had never denied connections to Fianna Fail.

The independent said he would be happy to accept votes from all supporters and drew comparisons with outgoing President Mary McAleese, who was the Fianna Fail candidate in 1997.

He said: "This is not a party political election and nor should it be. We stand here as individuals."

Fellow Independent candidate Mary Davis commented on the campaign saying that it had been "very negative".

While Labour candidate Michael D Higgins said that it was up to voters to look into the background and manifestos of individual candidates.

Higgins also said that he believed around a fifth or the electorate remained undecided and defended his age once again.

He deflected questions from the debate presenter Ivan Yates who questioned him on whether his age would present a barrier in him performing as the next President of Ireland.

Fine Gael’s Gay Mitchell hit out about reports that he lacked the chrisma needed to be the State’s President.

He said: "Charisma doesn't provide jobs.

"If you look at anything I've ever done I've been successful at it."

He also alluded to what he called "character assassination" on social media platforms.

This is the penultimate debate with the final televised debate to be broadcasted on RTE’s Frontline programme tonight.

The Final Debate

The seven Presidential candidates will prepare for the final TV debate of their campaigns and with only days to go until polling Gallagher is 'favourite' to become Ireland's next President.

According to the latest opinion poll, released this morning by the Irish Times, Mr Gallagher has 40% of the vote with his nearest rival Michael D Higgins 15 points behind on 25%.

Martin McGuinness is in third place on 15%. David Norris is on 8%, closely followed by Gay Mitchell on 6%. Meanwhile Mary Davis and Dana Rosemary Scallon are in joint last position on 3%.

Speaking about the latest poll Mr McGuinness said that he is still confident he can win; he said that the only poll that counts is the one on October 27.

Meanwhile it has been revealed that those living on the five islands off the coast of Donegal will vote over the next three days to ensure bad weather will not delay ballot boxes getting back to the mainland.

The people of Arranmore, Gola, Inishbofin, Inishfree and Tory Island get to vote three days ahead of the rest of the country, which will go to the polls on Thursday.

Voters living on islands off the coast of Mayo will go to the polls tomorrow, while those living on islands off Galway will vote on Wednesday.

Polling stations will be open from 11am to 3pm on each of the islands except Arranmore, where two polling stations will be open from 10.30am until 7.30pm, to accommodate people who work on the mainland.

(LB/CD)