Catherine Connolly says comments by Heather Humphreys ‘a new low’
Irish presidential candidate Catherine Connolly criticised her rival’s comments (PA)
Catherine Connolly has described comments made by her rival for the presidency as “a new low”.
The Independent candidate was in her native Galway where she was asked about an interview with the in which Heather Humphreys said she “never tried to make money out of people’s misfortune”, referring to Ms Connolly’s time working as a barrister during the economic crash.
Ms Connolly said she had been “over and over” the issue, adding: “For a candidate for the presidency to misuse that in the way she has, it’s just a new low.”
At the Fine Gael candidate’s first stop of the day, the Intermediate Football Championship Final in Athlone, she too was asked about the quotes.
Ms Humphreys reiterated her stance, saying that Ms Connolly “was working for UK banks” before she went in to politics, whereas she was working in a credit union “actually helping people to stay in their houses”.
When previously asked about this period in her career, Ms Connolly has pointed to the “cab rank rule”, which obliges barristers to accept instructions in any case in their area of practice.
On Sunday, Ms Humphreys also posted a message online thanking music star Daniel O’Donnell for his support after he told the he would be voting for her.
Writing on X, she said she is “humbled” by the support she has received.
The Taoiseach was also out and about on Sunday morning, delivering a speech at a commemoration of Irish revolutionary Wolfe Tone.
He used the opportunity to take aim at Ms Connolly, who he said was among those who “pretend to be pro-EU but in practice invest all of their energy in attacking the Union” – describing it as “corrosive and cynical euroscepticism”.
Micheál Martin did not name the presidential candidate in his address but later told reporters gathered in Bodenstown, County Kildare: “Catherine is in that camp, there is no question about that.”
In his speech, he said: “We need to start calling out people who say ‘Oh, but I’m pro-EU’ as they constantly announce and reannounce the supposed end of Irish sovereignty.”
He went on to list a number of stances he believes are “not pro-EU” including standing against European Union treaties, claiming the Union is “controlled by a wealthy elite” and “constantly” saying the EU is “destroying our neutrality and is in the hands of a military-industrial complex”.
In 2022, Ms Connolly told the Dáil she “proudly” canvassed against the Lisbon and Nice treaties due to concerns about “the militarisation of Europe”.
But during RTÉ Radio’s debate on October 12 she said it was “absolutely wrong” to say she had voted against “every European treaty”.
After the event Mr Martin reiterated his “very strong support for Heather Humphreys”.
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