Catherine Connolly 'had no contact with gardaí' over hiring woman convicted of gun offences

Ms Connolly denied that she had spoken to gardaí about the woman, or that she had received advice not to hire her

Catherine Connolly (pictured) said she 'believes in rehabilitation' and that Ms Ní Shionnáin was qualified for the job and had 'served her time in prison'. File picture: Sasko Lazarov/© RollingNews.ie

Independent presidential election candidate Catherine Connolly has said she was not told by gardaí that she could not hire a woman convicted of gun offences.

Hours after Taoiseach Micheál Martin accused her of a “lack of judgement”, Ms Connolly said Ursula Ní Shionnáin, who at the time of her conviction was a member of Éirigí, had been recommended to her by Fianna Fáil grandee Eamon Ó Cuiv and former MEP Clare Daly.