Debate starts with Connolly facing questions on role in bank repossessions

Ottoline Spearman

Catherine Connolly has been questioned about her previous job as a barrister, where it is alleged that she helped banks remove people from their homes.

Speaking on RTÉ Primetime on Tuesday evening in the final debate before the presidential election on Friday, Fine Gael candidate Heather Humphreys asked Independent Catherine Connolly if she represented banks to help repossess Irish homes.

This came after a question from RTÉ's host, who said that on the campaign, Ms Connolly had avoided answering questions to this end, and claimed that an Irish Times journalist had specifically asked her this question seven times.

Ms Connolly responded that she had never avoided a question in her life, but that she didn't want to get into the specifics of cases, and owed a "duty of confidentiality" to clients.

She said that voters could "expect openness and accountability" from her as a president, stressing the separation of powers between the government and the courts.

Ms Connolly also said "the barrister represents the client as best they can, and courts will make decisions based on government policy", blaming the Government for the policy and not the lawyers.

In response, Ms Humphreys said: "she's avoiding the question. It's a very simple question."

Ms Humphreys said that Catherine Connolly spoke against the banks and against repossession in Galway City Council and in the Dáil.

Ms Connolly then specifically acknowledged that she had represented the banks before, to which Ms Humphreys replied that she was "speaking out of both sides of your mouth".

In her opening speech, Ms Connelly said: "I represent a different type of Ireland. Heather is more of the same." She said that she would serve the people of Ireland to the best of her ability, and represented "care, compassion, solidarity".

Heather Humphreys said that she didn't promise perfection, but that she stood for "honesty, compassion and service."