President Higgins failed to inspire, declares NI-born contender Casey

IRISH presidential hopeful Peter Casey has said he does not give incumbent president Michael D Higgins any credit for meeting the Queen.

Londonderry native Mr Casey said Mr Higgins had not inspired the presidency, as some previous presidents had, and he had “stopped being wonderful” about two or three years ago.

The former Irish Dragons’ Den star made the comments as he officially kicked off his election campaign at the Irish emigration museum, Epic, in Dublin.

“The only thing I’ve heard about Michael D is he was good with the Queen,” Mr Casey said.

The millionaire candidate said he was not impressed, as there would have been protocol in place during the 2011 visit. “I don’t really give him points for

Irish presidency candidate Peter Casey and (right) current president Michael D Higgins with the Queen

meeting the Queen,” he said. “I don’t think he’s done anything bad... but he hasn’t inspired the presidency the way that perhaps some of the other previous presidents have.”

But Mr Casey admitted it was Mr Higgins’s campaign to lose.

The independent candidate criticised the president for not grasping the opportunity to take part in debates and discuss what he had achieved in the past seven years.

“He had an opportunity to explain and he decided to go and

have a cup of tea with Prince Edward,” Mr Casey said.

Prince Edward and his wife Sophie, the Countess of Wessex, met Mr Higgins and his wife Sabina at Aras an Uachtarain last month during a royal visit to the Republic.

Mr Casey added that he seemed to be the only person who dared be critical of the president.

“I’m the only one that’s actually sort of suggested that he is anything other than Santa Claus,” Mr Casey said.

“It’s a little bit like attacking Santa Claus when you say anything negative about him.”

Mr Casey is one of six candidates running for the highest office in the State.

The 60-year-old will have to fend off not only Mr Higgins but also two of his former fellow Dragons’ Den stars, Sean Gallagher and Gavin Duffy, as well as Sinn Fein’s Liadh Ni Riada, and senator and Pieta House charity founder Joan Freeman, to take up the coveted role.

Mr Casey left the Bogside 37 years ago, and runs global recruitment firm Claddagh Resources.