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File Photo Peter Casey. Wanderley Massafelli

Peter Casey withdraws remark calling Áras security breach 'a bit of a coincidence'

The former Dragon’s Den star faced questioning over the comments on the first day of campaigning.

PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE PETER Casey has withdrawn remarks he made about a security breach at Áras an Uachtaráin.

Speaking earlier this week, Casey said it was a “little bit of a coincidence” that there was a security breach  the week before the Presidential election kicked off. 

An investigation has been launched after a woman drove her car through the front gate of the presidential residence on 14 September, before speaking to President Higgins within the Áras. 

Speaking at the launch of his election campaign yesterday, Higgins said the woman left of her own volition, but refused to go into details on what they had discussed during the incident. He admitted there had been a security breach. 

As he lodged his election papers on Tuesday, Casey told waiting reporters that he found the incident a little coincidental:

I mean we go for seven years without an intruder and then suddenly we get one.

He appeared to suggest the incident may have been a PR stunt, saying he was surprised the President didn’t wrestle the intruder to the floor. 

However speaking yesterday on RTÉ’s Drivetime, Casey withdrew the remarks, saying he didn’t want them to linger for another day. He told presenter Mary Wilson: 

Well Mary it was a little bit tongue in cheek. I just was pointing out, seven years without a security breach and then suddenly we have one the day before we all sign up for the election.

Asked if he was now withdrawing the remarks he said “yes”.

Today will see the first official election debate take place, with four of the candidates due to take part on RTE Radio 1′s News at One. 

President Higgins is unavailable as he has prior commitments in Dublin. He is officially opening DCU’s new student centre on its Glasnevin campus at 11.00, before welcoming the Earl and Countess of Wessex to the Áras at 2.30 this afternoon. 

Fellow candidate Sean Gallagher had previously stated he would only partake in debates where all candidates are present. He is instead choosing to canvass on main street of Ardee, Co. Louth at the same time. 

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    Mute Joseph Dempsey
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    Sep 27th 2018, 9:00 AM

    Quite the buffoon this Casey chap, it’s astonishing he’s survived his first interview on drive time , but I guess the presidential election Circus needs it’s clowns, and boy the big top is full of them.

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    Mute David Grey
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    Sep 27th 2018, 9:04 AM

    Joseph. Yes Peter Casey is one of life’s falures all right. You should give him some of your wisdom

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    Mute Ohhh_reeally
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    Sep 27th 2018, 9:11 AM

    @David Grey: failure*. And, no one said he’s a failure. If people on the Journal would reply to what was actually said it’d help.

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    Mute Joseph Dempsey
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    Sep 27th 2018, 9:51 AM

    @David Grey: Buffoonary and Failure don’t mean the same thing, albeit on this stint, Casey will fail and miserably

    51
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    Mute Rónán O'Suilleabháin
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    Sep 27th 2018, 11:20 AM

    @Joseph Dempsey: On the day he declared, he was asked why he wanted to be president and he got into some waffle and told a story about how he told his mother 40 years ago that one day he’d return to Ireland and be President (He has spent most of his life in the states). When asked if he lived in Ireland now he said his house is here, he has sold his house in Atlanta, and his only house is here.

    It’s clear as mud what he’s all about.

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    Mute Rónán O'Suilleabháin
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    Sep 27th 2018, 11:21 AM

    @Rónán O’Suilleabháin: sorry, above was an interview on Newstalk.

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    Mute Irish Bob
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    Sep 27th 2018, 3:04 PM

    @Michael Allen: We have plenty of great smooth talking failed politicans who cant do anything correct.. At least Casey has been succesfull.
    Its a pity that people dont vote for results rather than talk

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    Mute Tordel Back
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    Sep 27th 2018, 9:36 AM

    Oh yeah, that Michael D surely needed a false-flag stunt to boost his ratings. As if 7 years of near-flawless work in the role wasn’t enough. And if that’s the kind of gaffe that Casey delivers on the campaign trail, I wouldn’t want him drivng through the gates of the Aras, never mind taking up residence.

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    Mute Conor Thorne
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    Sep 27th 2018, 3:23 PM

    @Tordel Back: flawless you sound like a teenager with a crush. …. what about his gushing tribute to Castro …. a corrupt anti free press homophobe ( yes he did some good things). Flawless I don’t think so

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    Mute Jane Waters
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    Sep 27th 2018, 9:13 AM

    It’s too late for Casey to recant the remark. In making it in the first place he showed just how petty and nasty he can be.
    These reality show folks are turning the process of electing a president into a circus.

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    Mute Ian McNally
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    Sep 27th 2018, 9:20 AM

    And thats Casey out of the running, wonder who will be next?

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    Mute John Campbell
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    Sep 27th 2018, 10:29 AM

    @Ian McNally: brilliant!!

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    Mute Tim
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    Sep 27th 2018, 9:11 AM

    Peter who?

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    Mute Robert O'Rourke
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    Sep 27th 2018, 9:25 AM

    @Tim: Casey. It says it in the article.

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    Mute Stephen Cumbers
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    Sep 27th 2018, 9:32 AM
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    Mute Tricia G
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    Sep 27th 2018, 11:02 AM

    @Stephen Cumbers: I am bookmarking that WWN article!!

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    Mute Big Red
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    Sep 27th 2018, 9:13 AM

    So the absolutely irrelevant 4 contenders are having a debate. Fabulous.

    President Higgins should avoid these sideshows like the plague. There is no political benefit to debating with this lot.

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    Mute Larry Fitzwell
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    Sep 27th 2018, 10:19 AM

    @Big Red: I agree. Saying nothing will be more than enough for him to be re-elected. The others need to somehow make a mark.

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    Mute BarronVonVaderHam
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    Sep 27th 2018, 9:38 AM

    It”s also a coincidence that Casey is a dead ringer for the mayor from jaws. “Amity, as you know, means friendship”

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    Mute Squiddley Diddley
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    Sep 27th 2018, 1:10 PM

    @BarronVonVaderHam: Thanks, once you see the resemblance you can’t switch it off!

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    Mute Morgan Fagg
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    Sep 28th 2018, 6:41 AM

    @BarronVonVaderHam: I wouldnt want to be actor Larry Vaughn this morning.

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    Mute Pj Berry
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    Sep 27th 2018, 9:15 AM

    Wonder how that clown got a nomination in the first place

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    Mute Eon Cocker
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    Sep 27th 2018, 10:53 AM

    @Pj Berry: cronies

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    Mute Margate
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    Sep 27th 2018, 11:39 PM

    @Pj Berry: clowns vote for clowns

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    Mute Anthony Clark
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    Sep 27th 2018, 10:30 AM

    On the other hard – I do think its more than a coincidence that suddenly the Áras is under scrutiny for expenses just weeks before an election – a political blow to soften him up by some contender maybe?

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    Mute Morgan Fagg
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    Sep 28th 2018, 6:44 AM

    @Anthony Clark: A woman drove up to the Áras to say hello to Michael D, very Irish but she got passed security in her car and met with the president. Ouch. I’m sure we wouldnt be talking about this at all if it didnt happen in an Election year.

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    Mute Aine O Connor
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    Sep 27th 2018, 9:59 AM

    Bad Start. Petty.

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    Mute Tricia G
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    Sep 27th 2018, 11:05 AM

    Was this the same lad that used a private helicopter to fly around to all the local councils to get nominated?

    Yeah, HE’S the kinda guy I want representing me and the country on the world stage……. Do you think it surprises him that the Irish have a reputation as begrudgers? Does he even know? LOL

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    Mute Morgan Fagg
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    Sep 28th 2018, 6:49 AM

    @Tricia G: Seriously? He flew there? He could be parachute candidate in the next election.

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    Mute Lisa Byrne
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    Sep 27th 2018, 10:31 AM

    I do hope Joan does well and I would like a new president, a fresh change is nice, but my god is Mike a classy gent, he talked to the lady and I can only imagine that he was calm and had empathy for her even though he might of got an awful fright.

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    Mute Eamonn Duggan
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    Sep 27th 2018, 11:20 AM

    Who will be the first dragon to say “Im out”

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    Mute Morgan Fagg
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    Sep 28th 2018, 6:46 AM

    @Eamonn Duggan: I’m stealing that line Eamonn, brilliant

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    Mute Melanie Tournier
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    Sep 27th 2018, 11:22 AM

    Any hope of a fair and positive campaign are quashed while this guy is in the mix,
    He’s prone to the odd gaff while also having a sinister edge to him,
    There will be plenty more cringeworthy moments from him over the next month,

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    Mute Jim Kirby
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    Sep 27th 2018, 10:50 AM

    Serious display of lack of judgement

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    Mute Neal Ireland Hello.
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    Sep 27th 2018, 11:57 AM

    If everything you say can just be withdrawn a day later when it doesn’t go down well, you might as well be living in a video game for which you have acquired the hack codes.

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    Mute Colm Naylor
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    Sep 27th 2018, 12:21 PM

    This guy doesn’t have a clue what he is talking about. Had to apologise also for praising the President of the Philippines on his stance towards drugs. Bit of a loose cannon and not somebody you’d necessarily want as president. In fact, it’s a surprise that he got the four council nominations in the first place.

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    Mute Ricardo Shillyshally
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    Sep 27th 2018, 10:00 AM

    Why would anybody vote for this p r i c k

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    Mute Liam Byrne
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    Sep 27th 2018, 12:51 PM

    He should just withdraw in general.

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    Mute Larry Roe
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    Sep 27th 2018, 11:27 AM

    ill give him my vote

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    Mute Justin Dawson
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    Sep 27th 2018, 10:41 PM

    Withdraws his remark.! Now do us all a favour and withdraw from the election , apologise to the irish people and do whatever it is you do best.Slainte.

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    Mute ianglen
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    Sep 27th 2018, 9:24 AM

    Idiot

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    Mute DJ François
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    Sep 27th 2018, 3:56 PM

    1down….

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    Mute SteoG
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    Sep 27th 2018, 11:25 PM

    INSANE CLOWN POSSE

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    Mute Margate
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    Sep 27th 2018, 11:48 PM

    How stupid can a person be? This man is an embarassment. Listened also to Duffy and Gallagher interviews yesterday evening; cringe stuff, really cringe, not a syllable of substance between them, embarrassing. They have some neck.. i find it reckless that some of their incompetent ‘ advisors’ cant take them aside and inform the lot of them on the actual Role of the President, at the very least. Ineptitude.

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    Mute Harry Price
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    Sep 27th 2018, 11:15 AM

    easy to see due to the hidden facts being hidden

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