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Sean Gallagher whistle-blower was paid by Sinn Fein’s Martin McGuinness

Accounts show Morgan benefited from election campaign

By
PATRICK COUNIHAN,
IrishCentral Staff Writer
Published Wednesday, February 15, 2012, 7:34 AM
Updated Wednesday, February 15, 2012, 10:14 AM

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Martin McGuinness and Sean Gallagher during a RTE presidential debate
Martin McGuinness and Sean Gallagher during a RTE presidential debate
Photo by Google Images


The man credited with bringing down Sean Gallagher’s Presidential election campaign profited from his relationship with Sinn Fein candidate Martin McGuinness.

It has emerged that McGuinness paid convicted fuel smuggler Morgan almost $5000 during the election campaign.

It was Armagh businessman Morgan who sensationally revealed Gallagher’s links with Fianna Fail just days before the country went to the polls.

The claims, broadcast live on national television, derailed Gallagher’s chances of winning the election that eventually saw Michael D Higgins become Irish President.

McGuinness alleged on the programme that Morgan had handed Gallagher a cheque for Fianna Fail as part of a 2008 fund raising campaign by the party.

A tweet, verifying the claim, was read out during the live TV debate amongst the candidates on Irish state television but RTE has since admitted it was false.

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Now the publication of candidate’s expenses for the campaign has revealed that Morgan’s fuel company was paid almost $5,000 by McGuinness during the election.

The Irish Times reports that Morgan Fuels Ireland Ltd received three payments totalling close to $5,000 from McGuinness according to documents released by the Standards in Public Office Commission.

Morgan Fuels is owned by Morgan, who alleged that Gallagher collected a cheque from him at Morgan Fuels headquarters in County Armagh.

In the summary of McGuinness’s election expenses given to the commission, his agent detailed the candidate’s transport and travel expenses which included petrol and diesel.

Morgan Fuels Ireland Ltd was paid a total of €2,871.46 for fuel in three separate payments of €948.88, €765.98 and €1,156.60.

A Sinn Féin spokeswoman told the paper that the payments related to fuel for the presidential campaign bus. “The driver had a card from Morgan Fuels which he used for refilling the tank,” she said.

McGuinness, who was third at the polls, incurred a total of more than $400,000 in election expenses and secured enough votes to ensure that he was reimbursed for $250,000.
 

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See more: News from Ireland , Martin McGuinness , Irish presidential race ,
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14 Comments

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seamus60 | Apr 21, 2012, 05:07 PM EDT
They will need to be up nice and early now that SF are in the game. Anyway whats the harm in a wee tweet between friends. Martin and Gerry have been doing it to god knows who and the brits know how long.

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IrelandNorth | Feb 17, 2012, 08:27 AM EST
More grist for the revisionist mill, I suspect. The adverse coverage of the McGuinness presidential bid by The Oirish Chimes T[h]rust was in stark contrast to their nauseous fawning towards EIIR during Her Maj's visit to her recently reacquired lost colony. As was the bowing and scraping of the mild colonial boys of Leinster House.

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angrypaddy | Feb 17, 2012, 01:20 AM EST
So all the other candidates walked around the country to save on feul???and even so,Martin stopped a pure rotten to the core corrupt bald headed bastard from getting his slimey hands on any political office hopefully for his life time(all though the stupit paddys are liable to do anything when his ugly face comes up again)

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AMWilson | Feb 15, 2012, 09:51 PM EST
If this was responsible journalism, it would have at least contained a comparison between McG's petrol expenses and those of the other candidates who used a campaign bus. Instead, we have these isolated numbers along with language designed to induce the feeble-minded to infer that McG was paying Morgan to take out the Dragon. Maybe that's what really happened, but without an honest comparison of expenses, who knows?

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sirpeter | Feb 15, 2012, 08:47 PM EST
Seano..Smear that's all it is.Spot on.To stupid to comment about.

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cillowen | Feb 15, 2012, 05:58 PM EST
thanks b - that mcguinness flushed out that conman sleeze.

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seanomelb | Feb 15, 2012, 04:12 PM EST
The smear brigade are out in force led by this guy Counihan (whoever he is).

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johhnyb | Feb 15, 2012, 01:40 PM EST
Hi Pilib04, Imagine anyone smearing Martin. The very idea. John

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cynicus | Feb 15, 2012, 01:37 PM EST
As for Gallagher, he also lay down with dogs- but got their fleas!

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cynicus | Feb 15, 2012, 01:36 PM EST
Well, what's another bank-heist or two? If you lie down with dogs, you will be well rewarded!

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upsceach | Feb 15, 2012, 12:15 PM EST
Most buses have between 100gallon to 300 gallon tanks.

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pilib04 | Feb 15, 2012, 11:48 AM EST
Not so fast! No where in this article did it say that it took thousands of euro's to fill the tank. The payment was made on a gas card bill. Of course, running a bus across Ireland is going cost money for fuel! Using the fuel bill to smear Martin McGuinness is unconscionable. The IrishCentral/Voice owe McGuinness an apology! Patrick Counihan is a hack writer.

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Paradigm | Feb 15, 2012, 11:11 AM EST
"THREE separate payments of €948.88, €765.98 and €1,156.60! A Sinn Féin spokeswoman said the payments related to fuel for the presidential campaign bus. The driver had a card from Morgan Fuels which he used for refilling the tank". Mighty big gas tanks in Ireland, Martin?

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antoman | Feb 15, 2012, 10:43 AM EST
I watched the debate and Gallagher was scuppered from the start. He was wearing lipstick. Might have been a goodluck kiss from the wife but it was most unprofessional of him to not wipe his mouth before taking his place at the podium.

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