Gareth Sheridan denounces Fine Gael's block on council nomination of independents as "poor judgment"

Presidential hopeful Gareth Sheridan has spoken out against Fine Gael's move to ban its councillors from nominating Independent candidates.

Sheridan, who is seeking a nomination for the 2025 presidential race as an Independent, called the block "an unprecedented attack on democratic process, the Constitution and local government" in a statement issued yesterday.

On Saturday, Fine Gael leadership told its 246 councillors they cannot facilitate the nomination of any candidate other than the ratified Fine Gael candidate and that if there is any vote to back an Independent, they must "oppose that nomination."

A candidate needs the backing of 20 Oireachtas members of four councils for a nomination; a popular route for Independents looking to become candidates. Among the Independents seeking council nomination are Sheridan, Conor McGregor, Bob Geldof, Maria Steen and Nick Delahunty.

Sheridan said the block "has gifted Conor McGregor a platform to claim that the Government is blocking his divisive Presidential bid."

Last week, McGregor posted a video pleading for councillors' support. Sheridan claimed Fine Gael leader Simon Harris "overreacted and worse, over-reached in going against the spirit of our Constitution."

"As the only candidate who has been actively and successfully canvassing Councillors for the last year, I have never met one Councillor that has heard from Conor McGregor nor has he officially sought an invite from any of the thirty-one Councils," Sheridan said.

On Saturday, McGregor wrote on X that the block should "be challenged as an abuse of power" and called for an investigation by authorities.

Albeit in March, a Sky News survey of 134 Oireachtas members found 100% said they would not support his candidacy, referencing his rape conviction and lack of political experience in comments.

"Fine Gael Councillors were never going to 'facilitate' any independent candidate seeking a nomination but now they have been ordered by their party leader to actively vote against any possible candidate seeking a nomination from those Councils," Sheridan said.

Sheridan went on to speak about the "collateral damage" of the order, which would block various other Independent candidates.

He named musician and humanitarian Bob Geldof, saying, "Surely the ballot paper would have been enhanced by Geldof’s name on it."

He also identified conservative campaigner Maria Steen, saying, "Though I am pro-choice we should never try to silence outright the pro-life lobby in a true democracy."

Similarly, he said Nick Delehanty, a critic of government spending on IPAS centres, "will now claim Fine Gael is running scared of any discussion on immigration."

Sheridan also claimed that confirmed candidates Catherine Connolly (Independent) and Heather Humphreys (Fine Gael) would be negatively affected by the block.

Of Humphreys, he said the order "will be damaging to her prospects as the Fine Gael block screams a lack of confidence in their candidate."

He claimed that Connoly's "silence on the block" will also harm her prospects, adding, "As an independent candidate herself, Deputy Connolly’s track record of questioning anti-democratic actions abroad has been visibly absent when it happens here at home."

Sheridan asserted that he is "undeterred" by the order, and said he will present to Kerry County Council today despite the hearing being chaired by Fine Gael.

"All those who value true democratic values should rail against this move which will have profound consequences and an electoral backlash way beyond its insult and attempt to silence councillors, dissent, new candidates and those outside the political establishment, especially younger candidates in their thirties such as myself," Sheridan said.

"It will forever be remembered by students of politics and historians as the Harris gerrymander and undermine the authority and credibility of whoever is elected President on October 24th."

The news comes after Fine Gael MEP Mairead McGuinness, Fianna Fáil leader Bertie Ahern, former Met Éireann meteorologist Joanna Donnelly (Independent) and Riverdance founder Michael Flatley (Independent) all confirmed they have withdrawn from the race.

This morning, Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald followed suit.