Heather Humphreys has rejected claims that she is involved in a Fine Gael-led smear campaign targeting her presidential opponent, Catherine Connolly, reports Breaking News.
Connolly, along with opposition party leaders supporting her candidacy, faced criticism earlier in the week from Fine Gael minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill.
The controversy arose after Connolly was questioned about her decision to hire a woman previously convicted in the Special Criminal Court, and who had been granted access to Leinster House for six months while awaiting full security clearance, reports Breaking News.
Some figures, including Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan, expressed disapproval, saying she had failed to follow appropriate procedures and that it was not “acceptable”.
Connolly reiterated her stance in support of rehabilitation but drew additional scrutiny after stating she would have to “reflect” on hiring a convicted rapist to work in the Áras.
She later clarified that she would not employ someone listed on the sex offenders register, reports Breaking News.
In a statement during the week, Carroll MacNeill said: “How Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald, Labour leader Ivana Bacik and Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns could back a candidate who would ‘need to reflect on whether she would hire a convicted rapist to work in Aras an Uachtarain?’”
In response, Bacik accused Fine Gael of “resorting to increasingly desperate smear tactics” and urged them to consider “the manner in which they are conducting their campaign”.
Speaking in Wexford on Friday, Humphreys said she didn’t know what Bacik was referring to, but added that there was “no smear coming from me anyway, or my campaign team”, reports Breaking News.
“I’m not involved in any smear campaign,” she said, speaking in Wexford, reports Breaking News.
“This to me is a fair campaign between myself and Catherine Connolly, and ultimately people will have to make up their own minds as to which of us will be the best 10th president of Ireland,” reports Breaking News.
In a separate issue, she addressed a video clip from a podcast featuring barrister and pundit Joe Brolly, in which he made a crude gesture while apparently impersonating a presidential candidate.
Brolly later clarified on social media that his remarks were aimed at former presidential contender Jim Gavin.
When asked about the footage, Humphreys criticised it as “very misogynistic” and said it was “targeted at women”, reports Breaking News.
“I can tell you now, I will not accept that,” she said, reports Breaking News.
“Many women across this country have been targeted like that, but I will stand up for the women of Ireland, and I can tell you one thing it won’t knock me back,” reports Breaking News.
Mr Brolly said on social media: “Just to be clear, on the podcast I was talking about Jim Gavin being unsuited to the insubstantial nature of the presidential campaign. It was nothing to do with Heather.”
With just two weeks to go before polling day on October 24, the presidential race is now down to two candidates after Fianna Fáil’s nominee Jim Gavin dramatically withdrew from the contest last Sunday.
A debate between the remaining candidates is scheduled to air on RTÉ Radio at lunchtime this Sunday, reports Breaking News.
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