Presidential candidate Catherine Connolly also denied that any person in a position of authority in Leinster House had advised her that it was not appropriate to employ the person in question.

The defendants have 42 days to enter an appearance and indicate whether they will defend the proceedings

The former Dublin MEP lost her seat in the European Parliament in June after crashing on count 17.

Four MEPs have been elected to represent Dublin in the European Parliament as the first of Ireland’s three constituencies finished its count.

Independents 4 Change MEP Clare Daly has also been eliminated in the count in the Dublin constituency.

Civil rights campaigner Bernadette McAliskey made the comments as she backed Clare Daly’s European re-election campaign.