PRESIDENTIAL candidate Sean Gallagher left hospital on crutches last night after ‘aggravating an old judo injury in the gym’.

The 56-year-old Dragons Den star revealed that he’d torn a ligament in his right knee and would have to finish the rest of the Aras campaign in a brace and on crutches.

Updating his followers, his Twitter account tweeted: “Quick Update: Seán had an unplanned campaign stop today, visiting hospital after aggravating an old Judo injury in the gym.

“He has torn a quadriceps ligament in his right knee & has been told to use a knee brace and crutches for the next few weeks.

“All just part of the joys of campaigning and Seán says the show goes on. Next stop.”

Mr Gallagher’s injury comes after a fresh opinion poll shows him trailing in second place on 12 per cent behind incumbent Michael D Higgins on 66 per cent.

The Irish Times/Ipsos MRBI poll shows Liadh Ni Riada in third place, on 11 per cent, Joan Freeman on five per cent, Gavin Duffy on four per cent and Peter Casey on two.

This morning, businessman Mr Casey faced criticism after saying that he believes “Travellers shouldn’t be given special status.”

The presidential candidate doesn’t think they should be recognised as an ethnic minority as they’re “basically people that are camping on somebody else’s land”.

His remarks, made on Independent.ie’s podcast The Floating Voter were widely criticised with Traveller group Pavee Point saying they are “informed and grossly insulting and offensive”.

Yesterday, Sean Gallagher accused President Michael D Higgins of “extravagant” and unacceptable spending as president.
He also said the President’s failure to appear on Monday night’s Claire Byrne Live debate made it a “farce” – even though Gallagher himself didn’t take part.

The four remaining presidential candidates, Gavin Duffy, Peter Casey, Liadh Ni Riada and Joan Freeman all attended the live TV debate.

Mr Gallagher told RTE Radio 1: “He has stopped being the president and has reverted back to being a politician. It does a disservice to the integrity of the entire election.

“Every body gets scrutinised, however it is unfair to all the candidates if one candidate is not getting scrutinised.

“Where is the publishment of the financial expenditure that we have? We can’t get the answer to these questions.

“I’ve called for that and his answer is now ‘I’ll show you the accounts if you elect me for another seven years’. Where is that transparent?”