Heather Humphreys faces court action from Paul Murphy after RTÉ debate remarks

Fine Gael presidential candidate Heather Humphreys on the campaign trail on Thursday. 

Paul Murphy has formally lodged defamation proceedings against Fine Gael presidential candidate Heather Humphreys, after comments she made on an RTÉ debate about the People Before Profit TD.

Filings say Mr Murphy’s solicitors issued formal legal proceedings at the High Court on Wednesday.

Ms Humphreys made the comments during a debate on RTÉ Radio on Sunday, referring to an incident in Jobstown in 2014 involving former Labour Party leader Joan Burton.

In 2017, Mr Murphy was found not guilty of false imprisonment of Ms Burton.

A legal letter was sent to Ms Humphreys on Monday evening, calling on the Fine Gael candidate to withdraw the remarks and apologise to Mr Murphy. It also calls on Ms Humphreys to meet Mr Murphy’s legal costs.

In the letter, Mr Murphy’s legal team said Ms Humphreys had accused him of engaging in “violent criminal conduct”, that he had committed “an act of gender-based violence” and that he was a “misogynist."

Mr Murphy’s solicitors added Ms Humphreys' comments were “grossly defamatory” and he had “suffered in his character and reputation."

The letter adds Mr Murphy had been exposed to “odium, ridicule, and contempt."

It is understood Mr Murphy has retained two senior counsel who worked on the Jobstown trial, with both Michael O’Higgins SC and Róisín Lacey SC taking the case.

Asked on Tuesday if she would be withdrawing the remarks, Ms Humphreys said: “What can I say only, you know, I remember looking at the videos of that particular incident where two women were trapped in their car.

“All I can say is that, well, Paul Murphy wasn't sitting at home watching television that day.” 

Ms Humphreys has been approached for comment.