Ex-Minister and Left Winger Vie for Irish Presidency After Football Coach Withdraws

Former Minister and Leftist Lawmaker Compete for Irish Presidency

DUBLIN (Reuters) -Ireland's presidential election will be contested by a former minister and a left-wing lawmaker after a third candidate, a former Gaelic football coach, pulled out of the contest following questions about his time as a landlord almost 20 years ago.

The withdrawal by Jim Gavin on Sunday, the candidate for Fianna Fail, one of Ireland's two governing parties, means the contest for the largely ceremonial role will now be a straight shootout between independent lawmaker Catherine Connolly and ex-minister Heather Humphreys.

The Irish Independent newspaper reported a claim by a former tenant that Gavin had failed to return a rent overpayment of more than 3,000 euros ($3,500) that was the result of a banking error.

In a statement, Gavin said that recent days had given him "cause to reflect".

"I made a mistake that was not in keeping with my character and the standards I set myself. I am now taking steps to address the matter," he said.

Connolly, one of the leading pro-Palestinian voices in parliament, has built up a coalition representing most of the opposition, including the largest member Sinn Fein, which opted not to put forward a candidate of its own.

Fine Gael, Ireland's other ruling party, is backing Humphreys, a former social affairs minister.

A poll for the Sunday Independent newspaper published on Sunday morning put Connolly at 32%, Humphreys at 23%, and Gavin at 15%.

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(Reporting by Graham Fahy; Editing by Lincoln Feast.)