'I never evicted anyone' says Humphreys as candidates clash over their previous jobs

Fine Gael candidate defends her credit union role amid Fine Gael attacks on Catherine Connolly for not disclosing that she had worked for financial institutions

Heather Humphreys meeting voters on the campaign trail in Gorey, Co Wexford, on Monday. Friday is polling day in Ireland's presidential election. Picture: Gráinne Ní Aodha/PA

Fine Gael's presidential candidate Heather Humphreys has said that the credit union that she managed did take legal action against members for non-payment "as a last resort" but that she "never evicted anyone from their house".

Ms Humphreys and Fine Gael have been deeply critical of her opponent Catherine Connolly for not declaring her work as a barrister on behalf of financial institutions in repossession cases before her election as a TD. 

On Sunday, the party published a video widely criticised by the opposition, which supports Ms Connolly, attacking the Galway woman on the issue.

Connolly challenged on 'non-disclosure'

The Bar Council has said that barristers are subject to the "cab rank" rule which assigns their work, but Ms Humphreys said on Monday that it "wasn't about the work of barristers" but about Ms Connolly's failure to disclose her representations when speaking in the Dáil on the issue of housing.

Asked on Monday if Cootehill Credit Union had ever taken legal cases over debts in her period as manager, Ms Humphreys said it had but that these were a last resort. 

Legal records show a small number of cases for the credit union in cases of non-payment. 

In some, the credit union was granted what is called a judgment mortgage, though this is not an instrument of eviction.

"I worked in the credit union, and of course, everybody has a duty to make sure people pay their loan. 

I never evicted anybody from their house, definitely not. 

"And that is something the credit union has always tried to do, to work with people and give them a chance and try to allow them to get themselves back on track again.

"A credit union has a duty to look after the savings of those who deposit their money. 

"They're called the members, and unfortunately, in some cases and always, always with the approval of the board of directors in the credit union, a legal proceeding took place, but it was only as a matter of last resort.

And I can tell you that nobody lost their house when I worked in a credit union. 

Ms Humphreys was asked about comments she made referencing Ms Connolly where she said that she herself had "never capitalised on the misfortune of people". 

She said that this was not a criticism of barristers and that she was speaking in a personal capacity about her own work.

"I didn't make those remarks about anybody else. 

"I was speaking for myself when I said that I have never tried to benefit from people who have been in difficult situations."

Speaking at Leinster House, Ms Connolly stated she has not worked as a barrister since 2016, the same year she was first elected to the Dáil. She said: 

At this point in the campaign, I'm deeply disappointed we're talking about my role as a barrister. 

“That is what the campaign has come to, as opposed to standing here and expanding on our vision as two candidates in a presidential election, expanding our vision for the president that we're down to talking about what work I did or didn't do as professional barrister.

“I think the Bar Council have clearly clarified on more than one occasion, and Fine Gael are still resorting to these tactics.

“Fine Gael are terrified. 

"I think they're absolutely terrified that the movement that I represent, simply, are a symbol of a new movement for a new republic."