Sean Gallagher: Irish entrepreneur announces second bid for presidency

Entrepreneur Sean Gallagher has launched a second bid to become president of Ireland.

The 56-year-old finished second behind Michael D Higgins in 2011, despite a number of controversial incidents during the campaign.

In a series of Twitter messages on Wednesday, Mr Gallagher confirmed his intention to stand as an independent candidate in the election on 28 October.

He founded Smarthomes, a home technology business, with Derek Roddy in 2002 and is well-known for his time as an investor on RTE One's Dragons' Den from 2008 to 2011.

Mr Gallagher has been a member of Fianna Fail at various stages of his life, including the party's youth wing, and served on its national executive.

But he said that despite his involvement in the party, he disagreed with many of its decisions in government from 1997-2011 and claimed it had "moved away from the grassroots".

After announcing his candidacy in 2011, the Irish Times reported that since 2008 he had been given €40,000 (£36,000) when he was appointed to various state boards by Fianna Fail ministers.

Mr Gallagher later said that any fees he had been the recipient of had been given to charity.

He came first in two polls the weekend ahead of polling day, scoring 40% and 38%.

The campaign's televised debates were dominated by questioning from the audience and rival candidates about Mr Gallagher's business record and links to Fianna Fail.

During the last debate a tweet from a fake Martin McGuinness Twitter account alleged he collected a cheque for €5,000 (£4,500) from businessman Hugh Morgan, for a Fianna Fail fundraiser which gave access to the Irish prime minister.

Mr Gallagher conceded he may have personally collected such a donation from Mr Morgan for the party.

The following day he claimed he had been subjected to a smear campaign and had not received any cheque from Mr Morgan.

Mr Gallagher also denied he was the party's "bagman".

In spite of the negative headlines he won 28.5% of first preference votes on polling day, finishing second behind Mr Higgins.

And in 2017 Mr Gallagher got "substantial" damages and an apology from RTE, as part of a settlement against the broadcaster stemming from the "tweetgate" incident.

He claimed the programme was deliberately and unfairly edited, presented and directed by RTE to damage his hopes of winning the presidency.

RTE later admitted the tweet should not have featured in its broadcast.