Connolly calls her presidential rival’s comments ‘a new low’

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 Sunday Independent 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 Irish Independent 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”.

Micheal 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 Dail she “proudly” canvassed against the Lisbon and Nice treaties due to concerns about “the militarisation of Europe”.

But during RTE Radio’s This Week 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”.

On Saturday, the Taoiseach’s former Fianna Fail colleague, and previous presidential election candidate, Sean Gallagher called on him to join Ms Humphreys’ campaign.

Responding to the comments, Mr Martin said: “I do know a thing or two about elections, a thing or two about how people respond to suggestions or directions from party leaders.”

Reacting to recent polls showing the Fine Gael candidate lagging significantly behind Ms Connolly, Mr Martin said: “If you look at the last presidential election, and if you look at the Sean Gallagher election, the gap was enormous with days to go, and it changed dramatically.

“So we just need to be careful about polls.

“Polls are not elections.”

Asked if there was a possibility divisions over which of the two remaining presidential candidates to support might cause a split within Fianna Fail, Mr Martin responded: “There is no split in Fianna Fail and there will not be.”

He added that it would be “counterproductive” for the party to “issue directions”, adding members will ”vote in accordance with their preferences.”