The Fine Gael TD said she “never tried to make money out of people’s misfortune”, referring to Connolly’s work as a barrister during the economic crash.
CATHERINE CONNOLLY HAS described comments made by her presidential campaign rival Heather Humphreys as “a new low”.
As the race for the Áras enters the final week before the country goes to the polls on Friday, the candidates have clashed over Fine Gael’s focus on the Galway West TD’s work as a barrister during the economic crash.
In the Sunday Independent, Humphreys said she “never tried to make money out of people’s misfortune”, alluding to Connolly representing banks in home repossession cases during the crash.
This was followed by a video shared online by Fine Gael entitled ‘Catherine Connolly’s hypocrisy’, during which a voiceover highlights the party’s questions over the presidential frontrunner’s previous career.
The video, which lasts for nearly three minutes, includes footage of Connolly’s previous Dáil contributions on housing and the banks along with clips of money and housing estates.
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Speaking to reporters in Galway yesterday, Connolly said: “The campaign has reached a new low by Fine Gael. Absolutely a new low.
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“I have addressed this over and over again and for the candidate for the presidency to misuse that in the way that she has is just a new low. It’s just a new low.”
Both Connolly and the Bar Council of Ireland have repeatedly highlighted the cab-rank rule.
Barristers operate under the rule which means they are precluded from refusing instructions on the ground that the nature of the case, or the conduct, opinions or beliefs of a client may be unacceptable to themselves.
The Bar Council said this rule is “central to trust in the Irish legal system and the rule of law”.
The video has been criticised by opposition TDs on social media, with Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore likening it to “the Trump playbook”.
Today, Connolly is taking part in a ‘youth canvass day’ to call on young people to vote on Friday, which will culminate in a ‘Ceol for Connolly’ concert at Dublin’s Vicar Street at 6pm this evening.
Meanwhile, Humphreys will be speaking on Northern Sound FM this morning before canvassing in Gorey, Co Wexford at 2pm this afternoon. Virgin Media will also broadcast
The final presidential debate is taking place on Prime Time on RTÉ One tomorrow evening.
Recent polling has placed Connolly strokes ahead of Humphreys after Jim Gavin’s exit from the race, despite Fianna Fáil supporters defecting to support Humphreys.
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