Humphreys says she is not part of a 'smear campaign' against Connolly

By Gráinne Ní Aodha, PA

Heather Humphreys has denied that she is part of a Fine Gael smear campaign against her presidential rival Catherine Connolly.

Ms Connolly and opposition leaders who back her came under criticism from Fine Gael minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill during the week.

It came after Ms Connolly was questioned for seeking to employ a woman who had a Special Criminal Court conviction, and who gave her access to Leinster House for six months while her security clearance was pending.

Some politicians, including Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan, have criticised her for not following the rules and said it was not “acceptable”.

Ms Connolly said repeatedly she believed in rehabilitation, before coming under further questioning after stating she would have to “reflect” on whether she would hire a convicted rapist to the Áras.

She later said she would not hire someone who was on the sex offenders register.

In a statement during the week, Ms Carroll MacNeill asked 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?”

Ms Bacik responded by saying that Fine Gael was “resorting to increasingly desperate smear tactics” and needed to reflect “on the manner in which they are conducting their campaign”.

Asked about the comments on Friday, Ms Humphreys said she did not know what Ms Bacik was referring to, but said there was “no smear coming from me anyway, or my campaign team”.

“I’m not involved in any smear campaign,” she said, speaking in Wexford.

“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.”

Separately, she was asked about a video recording of a podcast episode featuring barrister and commentator Joe Brolly, who made a lewd gesture as he appeared to do an impression of a presidential candidate.

He later said on social media that he was speaking about the former contender for the presidency Jim Gavin.

Asked about the video, Ms Humphreys said the video was “very misogynistic” and was “targeted at women”.

“I can tell you now, I will not accept that,” she said.

“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.”

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.”

Just two weeks remain until polling day on October 24, and the candidates for the 10th president of Aras an Uachtarain have been whittled down to two after Fianna Fáil’s candidate Mr Gavin withdrew from the race dramatically on Sunday.

A debate on RTÉ Radio will be held at lunchtime on Sunday.