{"id":135779,"date":"2025-10-21T09:53:08","date_gmt":"2025-10-21T09:53:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/135779\/"},"modified":"2025-10-21T09:53:08","modified_gmt":"2025-10-21T09:53:08","slug":"humphreys-defends-campaign-attack-video-accusing-connolly-of-hypocrisy-the-irish-times","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/135779\/","title":{"rendered":"Humphreys defends campaign attack video accusing Connolly of \u2018hypocrisy\u2019 \u2013 The Irish Times"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"c-paragraph free \"><b>Main Points <\/b><\/p>\n<ul class=\"c-unordered-list \">\n<li class=\"c-list-item \">The final RT\u00c9 Prime Time <a href=\"https:\/\/www.irishtimes.com\/presidential-election\/\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" title=\"https:\/\/www.irishtimes.com\/presidential-election\/\">presidential election<\/a> takes place at 9.35pm. <\/li>\n<li class=\"c-list-item \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.irishtimes.com\/tags\/heather-humphreys\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" title=\"https:\/\/www.irishtimes.com\/tags\/heather-humphreys\/\" target=\"_blank\">Heather Humphreys<\/a> has committed to engaging with Lucia O\u2019Farrell.<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-list-item \">Fine Gael has continued to accuse Catherine Connolly of \u201chypocrisy\u201d for appearing for banks in home repossession cases while working as a barrister, while being critical of the banks. <\/li>\n<li class=\"c-list-item \">Ms Connolly claimed Fine Gael was deploying these tactics because it was \u201cabsolutely terrified\u201d of her campaign.<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-list-item \">Heather Humphreys has said her former Credit Union did pursue people through the courts for debt when she was manager, but she was never involved in repossession cases. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"c-paragraph free \"><b>Best Reads <\/b><\/p>\n<p>\u00d3rla  Ryan &#8211; 2 minutes ago<\/p>\n<p>The social media battle has already been won, but can the last TV debate turn the tide?<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-paragraph free b-it-article-body__text--left\">As the presidential election campaign enters its final three days, it remains theoretically possible that tonight\u2019s Prime Time debate on RT\u00c9 could upend the pecking order. Possible, but not likely. Still, it has happened before, <b>Hugh Linehan<\/b> writes.<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-paragraph free b-it-article-body__text--left\">In his latest column, he breaks down how Catherine Connolly has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.irishtimes.com\/media\/2025\/10\/21\/catherine-connolly-has-won-the-digital-media-battle-in-the-presidential-election-hands-down\/\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" title=\"https:\/\/www.irishtimes.com\/media\/2025\/10\/21\/catherine-connolly-has-won-the-digital-media-battle-in-the-presidential-election-hands-down\/\">won the digital media battle to date<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-paragraph free \">\u201cIn the broadcast version of events, three candidates entered the fray, then became two. Most observers agreed that Catherine Connolly won the opening debate on Virgin Media, clearly and decisively. <\/p>\n<p class=\"c-paragraph free \">\u201cHeather Humphreys improved her performances subsequently, particularly once Jim Gavin exited the race, but she was always chasing the lead. So, advantage Connolly.<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-paragraph free \">\u201cOnline, there has been no contest. The Connolly campaign has been omnipresent across podcasts and social feeds, while Humphreys has barely registered.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u00d3rla  Ryan &#8211; 19 minutes ago<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" alt=\"Leaders backing Connolly: Sinn F&#xE9;in's Mary Lou MacDonald, Social Democrats' Holly Cairns, Labour's Ivana Bacik, People Before Profit-Solidarity's Paul Murphy and Ruth Coppinger, and the Green Party's Roderic O'Gorman on stage at a concert for Catherine Connolly in Vicar Street, Dublin, on Monday night. Photograph: Dan Dennison\/The Irish Times\" class=\"c-image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/AJKSOGGZQ5F23NZWFYTJLWTTZI.jpg\"   width=\"800\" height=\"533\"\/>Leaders backing Connolly: Sinn F\u00e9in&#8217;s Mary Lou MacDonald, Social Democrats&#8217; Holly Cairns, Labour&#8217;s Ivana Bacik, People Before Profit-Solidarity&#8217;s Paul Murphy and Ruth Coppinger, and the Green Party&#8217;s Roderic O&#8217;Gorman on stage at a concert for Catherine Connolly in Vicar Street, Dublin, on Monday night. Photograph: Dan Dennison\/The Irish Times <b>Connolly urges voters to \u2018make your vote count on Friday\u2019<\/b><\/p>\n<p class=\"c-paragraph free \">Catherine Connolly has urged people across Ireland to use their vote in the presidential election on Friday, amid concerns there will be a low turnout. <\/p>\n<p class=\"c-paragraph free \">\u201cYour vote is your voice. Use it. Don\u2019t let anyone else speak for you or decide your future,\u201d Ms Connolly said on Tuesday.<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-paragraph free \">\u201cDemocracy only works when people take part &#8211; and when citizens stand up and say: we are not to be taken for granted.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-paragraph free \">The Galway TD added that every single vote will count in shaping Ireland\u2019s future.<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-paragraph free \">\u201cDon\u2019t let anyone tell you your vote doesn\u2019t matter. It matters deeply &#8211; because it\u2019s yours. This Friday, stand up, go out, and vote for the Ireland you believe in. Send a message that this country belongs to its people.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u00d3rla  Ryan &#8211; 41 minutes ago<\/p>\n<p>Former IFA presidents back Heather Humphreys<img decoding=\"async\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" alt=\"Heather Humphreys speaks with attendees at The National&#xA0;Ploughing&#xA0;Championships&#xA0;in Tullamore, Co Offaly, last month. Photograph: Dan Dennison\/The Irish Times\" class=\"c-image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/SPE7RO6KO5DWXL5XKF7DDFRO2I.jpg\"   width=\"800\" height=\"533\"\/>Heather Humphreys speaks with attendees at The National\u00a0Ploughing\u00a0Championships\u00a0in Tullamore, Co Offaly, last month. Photograph: Dan Dennison\/The Irish Times <\/p>\n<p class=\"c-paragraph free \">Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon, Fine Gael\u2019s director of elections, has welcomed the endorsement of Heather Humphreys by eight former presidents of the Irish Farmers\u2019 Association (IFA), calling it \u201ca momentous show of trust from some of rural Ireland\u2019s most prominent farming voices\u201d.<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-paragraph free \">\u201cThis letter of support, signed by no fewer than eight former IFA Presidents, represents a hugely significant moment in this campaign. <\/p>\n<p class=\"c-paragraph free \">\u201cThese signatories have given a voice to Irish farmers over several decades, and their united support for Heather Humphreys is a strong message to rural Ireland, this is your candidate,\u201d Mr Heydon said on Tuesday.<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-paragraph free \">The letter, publicly released ahead of polling day this Friday, is signed by Donie Cashman, Tom Clinton, John Donnelly, Tom Parlon, John Dillon, John Bryan, Eddie Downey, Joe Healy, and Tim Cullinan \u2013 all of whom served as national presidents of the IFA.<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-paragraph free \">In their message, they urge people from all political backgrounds to vote for Ms Humphreys, highlighting her \u201cproven experience\u201d and commitment to \u201cchampioning the agricultural sector and rural life at home and abroad\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>\u00d3rla  Ryan &#8211; 53 minutes ago<\/p>\n<p>Could Catherine Connolly have refused to act for banks in repossession cases?<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-paragraph free b-it-article-body__text--left\">Barristers are <a href=\"https:\/\/www.irishtimes.com\/crime-law\/courts\/2025\/10\/20\/qa-could-catherine-connolly-have-refused-to-act-for-banks-in-repossession-cases\/\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" title=\"https:\/\/www.irishtimes.com\/crime-law\/courts\/2025\/10\/20\/qa-could-catherine-connolly-have-refused-to-act-for-banks-in-repossession-cases\/\">obliged to take on clients<\/a> with regard to the area of law in which they practise, <b>Colm Keena<\/b> reports.<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-paragraph free \">They have what is sometimes called a \u201ccab-rank system\u201d, meaning barristers \u201cpick up\u201d the cases they are asked to take on. <\/p>\n<p class=\"c-paragraph free \">Ensuring everyone can access justice is central to trust in the rule of law, the Bar Council has said in response to criticism of Ms Connolly.<\/p>\n<p>Harris says Connolly must answer questions about repossessions<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-paragraph free \">Speaking on his way into Cabinet this morning, T\u00e1naiste Simon Harris called on Catherine Connolly to answer questions about representing banks in repossession cases. <\/p>\n<p class=\"c-paragraph free \">\u201cI fully understand and respect the role a barrister has to play, but I also think it\u2019s very important that people are consistent in terms of their public utterances,\u201d Mr Harris said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-paragraph free \">He referenced an interview in today\u2019s Irish Daily Mail with a man who voted to elect Ms Connolly as a councillor in Galway and was later surprised to see her acting for a bank trying to repossess his home.<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-paragraph free \">Paul Stevenson described Ms Connolly as being \u201cruthless\u201d during the court case in 2013.<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-paragraph free \">Mr Harris said Ms Connolly must answer questions about this. <\/p>\n<p class=\"c-paragraph free \">\u201cThat\u2019s what is meant to happen in elections &#8211; people debate and discuss issues, people get scrutinised on their record, on their judgement, and then the Irish people decide.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Inside Politics podcast<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-paragraph free b-it-article-body__text--left\">The Inside Politics team is bringing out an Election Daily podcast every day during the campaign, with host Hugh Linehan and the political correspondents parsing all the latest twists and developments of the day. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.irishtimes.com\/podcasts\/inside-politics\/election-daily-podcast-is-fine-gaels-attack-ad-tactic-backfiring\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" title=\"https:\/\/www.irishtimes.com\/podcasts\/inside-politics\/election-daily-podcast-is-fine-gaels-attack-ad-tactic-backfiring\/\" target=\"_blank\">Here is the latest.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>All eyes on tonight\u2019s debate<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-paragraph free b-it-article-body__text--left\">The playbook for presidential election campaigns has been thrown out the window, <b>Harry McGee <\/b>writes.<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-paragraph free b-it-article-body__text--left\">The received wisdom of candidates maintaining a dignified public appearance has not been followed, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.irishtimes.com\/politics\/2025\/10\/21\/presidential-election-playbook-out-the-window-as-final-tv-debate-approaches\/\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" title=\"https:\/\/www.irishtimes.com\/politics\/2025\/10\/21\/presidential-election-playbook-out-the-window-as-final-tv-debate-approaches\/\">especially on the Fine Gael side<\/a>. <\/p>\n<p class=\"c-paragraph free \">Contrast the approach of Heather Humphreys\u2019 campaign in the first live TV debate in which she tried to stay above the fray and the political attacks on her opponent, Catherine Connolly, in the past few days.<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-paragraph free \">Yes, the gloves are off. And we expect the second and final live debate tonight on RT\u00c9\u2019s Prime Time to be a tense and bad-tempered affair.<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-paragraph free \">Because of the way in which the hostilities between both camps have escalated, there is going to be extraordinary focus on that debate.<\/p>\n<p><b>\u2018Heather Humphreys needs to be a better loser\u2019<\/b><\/p>\n<p class=\"c-paragraph free b-it-article-body__text--left\">In his <a href=\"https:\/\/www.irishtimes.com\/opinion\/2025\/10\/21\/fintan-otoole-catherine-connolly-is-going-to-win-heather-humphreys-needs-to-be-a-better-loser\/?\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" title=\"https:\/\/www.irishtimes.com\/opinion\/2025\/10\/21\/fintan-otoole-catherine-connolly-is-going-to-win-heather-humphreys-needs-to-be-a-better-loser\/?\">latest column<\/a>, <b>Fintan O\u2019Toole<\/b> argues that Fianna F\u00e1il has made itself irrelevant to this election and Fine Gael isn\u2019t far behind.<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-paragraph free \">He writes that Fianna F\u00e1il\u2019s \u201cbest hope of salvaging a smidgen of respectability on Friday is for Jim Gavin to function as an empty cipher for the protest vote\u201d.<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-paragraph free \">\u201cThis is at least vaguely amusing: Fianna F\u00e1il going into its centenary year as the middle finger for middle Ireland.<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-paragraph free \">\u201cBut when it comes to embarrassing oneself, Fine Gael is giving its historic rival a run for its money. It has taken out its big black marker and scrawled all over Connolly\u2019s image. But all it\u2019s really managing to achieve is to make itself look juvenile.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Heather Humphreys needs seismic shift <img decoding=\"async\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" alt=\"Supporters of Heather Humphreys shelter from the rain as she canvasses in Gorey, Co Wexford, on Monday. Photograph: Gr&#xE1;inne N&#xED; Aodha\/PA Wire\" class=\"c-image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/2KKBEKNPONFORGKPHZRDYIK4DM\"   width=\"800\" height=\"599\"\/>Supporters of Heather Humphreys shelter from the rain as she canvasses in Gorey, Co Wexford, on Monday. Photograph: Gr\u00e1inne N\u00ed Aodha\/PA Wire <\/p>\n<p class=\"c-paragraph free b-it-article-body__text--left\">Last week\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.irishtimes.com\/politics\/2025\/10\/16\/catherine-connolly-on-course-for-presidential-election-win-with-strong-lead-in-new-poll\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" title=\"https:\/\/www.irishtimes.com\/politics\/2025\/10\/16\/catherine-connolly-on-course-for-presidential-election-win-with-strong-lead-in-new-poll\/ \" target=\"_blank\">Irish Times\/Ipsos B&amp;A poll showed <\/a>that Catherine Connolly \u2013 at least at the time the poll sampling was done on Monday and Tuesday \u2013 had a huge 18-point lead among all voters, larger again if you count only those who will cast a valid vote.<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-paragraph free b-it-article-body__text--left\">Can Heather Humphreys overturn that by Friday? It would <a href=\"https:\/\/www.irishtimes.com\/politics\/2025\/10\/20\/humphreys-needs-seismic-shift-in-final-days\/\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" title=\"https:\/\/www.irishtimes.com\/politics\/2025\/10\/20\/humphreys-needs-seismic-shift-in-final-days\/\">take an earthquake<\/a>. Tonight\u2019s Prime Time debate may be the last opportunity for Ms Humphreys to turn the tide, <b>Pat Leahy<\/b> writes.<\/p>\n<p>High Court rejects challenge to Fine Gael\u2019s direction to councillors in presidential race<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-paragraph free b-it-article-body__text--left\">A businessman who alleged Fine Gael\u2019s direction to its councillors to block the nomination of independent presidential candidates was unconstitutional has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.irishtimes.com\/crime-law\/courts\/2025\/10\/20\/high-court-rejects-challenge-to-fine-gaels-direction-to-councillors-in-presidential-race\/\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" title=\"https:\/\/www.irishtimes.com\/crime-law\/courts\/2025\/10\/20\/high-court-rejects-challenge-to-fine-gaels-direction-to-councillors-in-presidential-race\/\">failed in a High Court challenge<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-paragraph free b-it-article-body__text--left\">Mr Justice Brian Cregan said on Monday that Niall Byrne\u2019s application seeking to halt the presidential election was bound to fail and should be struck out, <b>Fiachra Gallagher <\/b>reports.<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-paragraph free \">Co Kildare-based Mr Byrne, representing himself, had brought the action against the T\u00e1naiste and Fine Gael leader Simon Harris, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Ireland and the Attorney General.<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-paragraph free \">Mr Byrne had argued Mr Harris\u2019s direction to councillors not to support prospective independent candidates for the presidency was unconstitutional as it interfered with the democratic independence of local government protected under the Constitution.<\/p>\n<p><b>What is your view of the presidential election campaign?<\/b><\/p>\n<p class=\"c-paragraph free \">How has this presidential election been for you? Are you enjoying the debates, engaged with the candidates and clear in your mind on how you plan to vote?<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-paragraph free b-it-article-body__text--left\">Or are you among the 18 per cent of voters who remain undecided \u2013 according to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.irishtimes.com\/politics\/2025\/10\/16\/catherine-connolly-on-course-for-presidential-election-win-with-strong-lead-in-new-poll\/%20\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" title=\"https:\/\/www.irishtimes.com\/politics\/2025\/10\/16\/catherine-connolly-on-course-for-presidential-election-win-with-strong-lead-in-new-poll\/ \" target=\"_blank\">Irish Times\/Ipsos B&amp;A poll<\/a> \u2013 or indeed the 5 per cent who plan to vote for Fianna F\u00e1il\u2019s Jim Gavin, who has ended his campaign but is still on the ballot paper.<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-paragraph free \">We would like to hear your views on the election campaign so far; from the number of candidates in the field, to whether you feel these candidates represent you, and whether you feel the debates and other media information have allowed you to get to know these candidates?<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-paragraph free \">With one eye on future presidential campaigns, what changes would you like to see to the process?<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-paragraph free b-it-article-body__text--left\">You can share your views <a href=\"https:\/\/www.irishtimes.com\/politics\/2025\/10\/20\/what-is-your-view-of-the-presidential-election-campaign\/\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" title=\"https:\/\/www.irishtimes.com\/politics\/2025\/10\/20\/what-is-your-view-of-the-presidential-election-campaign\/\">using the form here<\/a>. <\/p>\n<p><b>Connolly addresses concert at Vicar Street<\/b><img decoding=\"async\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" alt=\"The 'Ceol for Connolly' event featured acts such Christy Moore and The Mary Wallopers. Photograph: Dan Dennison\/The Irish Times\" class=\"c-image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/JI6VPKMW2VEPPD7XUCFGAIOZ3M.jpg\"   width=\"800\" height=\"533\"\/>The &#8216;Ceol for Connolly&#8217; event featured acts such Christy Moore and The Mary Wallopers. Photograph: Dan Dennison\/The Irish Times <\/p>\n<p class=\"c-paragraph free b-it-article-body__text--left\">While Heather Humphreys received the endorsement of Daniel O\u2019Donnell over the weekend, Catherine Connolly\u2019s camp knitted together <a href=\"https:\/\/www.irishtimes.com\/politics\/2025\/10\/21\/im-only-a-symbol-of-the-movement-ye-matter-catherine-connolly-addresses-support-concert-at-vicar-street\/\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" title=\"https:\/\/www.irishtimes.com\/politics\/2025\/10\/21\/im-only-a-symbol-of-the-movement-ye-matter-catherine-connolly-addresses-support-concert-at-vicar-street\/\">a line-up of Irish acts<\/a> targeting a young audience on Monday night, <b>Cian O\u2019Connell<\/b> reports.<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-paragraph free \">Ms Connolly emerged to kick off proceedings, flanked by a slew of party leaders and backers who have committed to her cause \u2013 Sinn F\u00e9in\u2019s Mary Lou McDonald, the Social Democrats\u2019 Holly Cairns, Paul Murphy of People Before Profit-Solidarity and Labour\u2019s Ivana Bacik among them. <\/p>\n<p class=\"c-paragraph free \">Emcee Kevin Twomey, of I\u2019m Grand Mam podcast fame, joked that he and McDonald were sharing Baby Guinnesses backstage.<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-paragraph free \">\u201cThis is a night to celebrate and it\u2019s a night to realise the changes that we have made by coming together,\u201d Connolly said. \u201cI\u2019m only a symbol of the movement. Ye matter.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-paragraph free \">Christy Moore was among the many performers. <\/p>\n<p class=\"c-paragraph free \">\u201cWhat a woman, what a president she will make,\u201d he said, raising his right fist. <\/p>\n<p class=\"c-paragraph free \">He spoke of unlikely groups coming together, and the feeling of energy in the room. Appropriately, he included the Dominic Behan song Connolly Was There in his 20 minutes on stage.<\/p>\n<p><b>Who should you vote for as president? <\/b><img decoding=\"async\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" alt=\"Vote checker\" class=\"c-image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1761040388_863_IRQJT4WB2FGWZFYU4HOPHDF75M.jpg\"   width=\"800\" height=\"533\"\/>Catherine Connolly and Heather Humphreys have answered 25 questions \u2013 how do your views match up? Illustration: Paul Scott <\/p>\n<p class=\"c-paragraph free b-it-article-body__text--left\">People will go <a href=\"https:\/\/www.irishtimes.com\/tags\/presidential-election\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" title=\"https:\/\/www.irishtimes.com\/tags\/presidential-election\" target=\"_blank\">to the polls<\/a> on Friday to vote on who will become the 10th president of Ireland.<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-paragraph free \">To help undecided voters with this important decision, the WhichCandidate voting aid application is now available. <\/p>\n<p class=\"c-paragraph free \">This comparison tool enables voters to compare their own views with those of the two election candidates across a range of issues.<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-paragraph free b-it-article-body__text--left\">Catherine Connolly and Heather Humphreys have answered 25 questions \u2013 how do your views match up? <a href=\"https:\/\/www.irishtimes.com\/politics\/2025\/10\/16\/who-should-you-vote-for-as-president-use-this-tool-to-see-which-candidate-matches-your-views\/\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" title=\"https:\/\/www.irishtimes.com\/politics\/2025\/10\/16\/who-should-you-vote-for-as-president-use-this-tool-to-see-which-candidate-matches-your-views\/\">Check here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Connolly\u2019s criticisms of banks<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-paragraph free b-it-article-body__text--left\">A review of Ms Connolly\u2019s D\u00e1il contributions as Independent TD for Galway West shows <a href=\"https:\/\/www.irishtimes.com\/politics\/2025\/10\/20\/what-did-catherine-connolly-actually-say-about-the-banks\/\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" title=\"https:\/\/www.irishtimes.com\/politics\/2025\/10\/20\/what-did-catherine-connolly-actually-say-about-the-banks\/\">a speech critical of banks<\/a> in 2017 during a debate on the tracker-mortgage scandal, Marie O\u2019Halloran reports.<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-paragraph free \">This centred around banks overcharging tens of thousands of customers after they denied them a tracker rate they were entitled to \u2013 1 per cent above European Central Bank rate \u2013 or charged the wrong rate of interest, resulting in the loss of 315 homes and buy-to-let properties.<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-paragraph free \">\u201cThe banks did this because they got away with it and they knew the tracker mortgages were good for their customers but not good for the profits of the banks, so they decided they would change that,\u201d Ms Connolly said at the time.<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-paragraph free \">\u201cWhat the banks have done is wrong, in my opinion, criminally wrong and there should be a serious Garda investigation into it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><b>Connolly says Fine Gael is \u2018absolutely terrified\u2019 of her campaign<\/b><img decoding=\"async\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" alt=\"Independent Presidential candidate Catherine Connolly hosted a 'Ceol for Connolly' evening in Vicar Street, Dublin, on Monday. The event featured acts such Christy Moore and The Mary Wallopers. Photograph: Dan Dennison\/The Irish Times\" class=\"c-image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/OVLP6JC6WVAYZAISB3OHYY3IAI.jpg\"   width=\"800\" height=\"533\"\/>Independent Presidential candidate Catherine Connolly hosted a &#8216;Ceol for Connolly&#8217; evening in Vicar Street, Dublin, on Monday. The event featured acts such Christy Moore and The Mary Wallopers. Photograph: Dan Dennison\/The Irish Times <\/p>\n<p class=\"c-paragraph free b-it-article-body__text--left\">Fine Gael intensified its attacks on Catherine Connolly on Monday as both candidates in the presidential election prepare for the final television debate of the campaign on RT\u00c9 on Tuesday night, <b>Pat Leahy<\/b>,<b> Ellen Coyne<\/b> and <b>Jack Horgan-Jones<\/b> reports.<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-paragraph free \">Despite a backlash from several quarters, including pointed remarks from Minister for Justice Jim O\u2019Callaghan, Fine Gael continued to accuse Ms Connolly of \u201chypocrisy\u201d for appearing for banks in home repossession cases while being critical of the banks and campaigning for an end to evictions.<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-paragraph free b-it-article-body__text--left\">Ms Connolly <a href=\"https:\/\/www.irishtimes.com\/politics\/2025\/10\/20\/fine-gael-intensifies-attacks-as-connolly-says-party-is-absolutely-terrified\/\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" title=\"https:\/\/www.irishtimes.com\/politics\/2025\/10\/20\/fine-gael-intensifies-attacks-as-connolly-says-party-is-absolutely-terrified\/\">hit back at Fine Gael<\/a>, and claimed the party was deploying these tactics because it was \u201cabsolutely terrified\u201d of her campaign.<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-paragraph free \">\u201cI think they\u2019re absolutely terrified, and that they would resort to such tactics just reflects on their terror and their fear of the change in Ireland. And they are utterly out of touch,\u201d Ms Connolly said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-paragraph free \">She called on Ms Humphreys to withdraw comments that the Fine Gael candidate had made over the weekend, when Ms Humphreys implied that Ms Connolly had made money out of people\u2019s misfortune. Ms Connolly said home repossessions after the financial crash were the consequence of government policies.<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-paragraph free \">\u201cI saw packed courts, I saw the consequences of government policies, saving the banks. I saw people being evicted from their houses, directly consequent on government policy. I saw county registrars bent over backwards not to put people out of their houses, and finding every possible way to avoid that,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-paragraph free b-it-article-body__text--left\">In an interview with her local radio station Shannonside Northern Sound, Heather Humphreys said: \u201cI am not attacking Catherine\u2019s work as a barrister, I am highlighting her hypocrisy as a politician.<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-paragraph free \">\u201cShe criticised the same banks that she repossessed homes for. I\u2019m pointing out the hypocrisy of working for the banks in the courts to repossess houses and saying something different in the council chamber in Galway or in the D\u00e1il chamber.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><b>Humphreys commits to engaging with Lucia O\u2019Farrell<\/b><\/p>\n<p class=\"c-paragraph free b-it-article-body__text--left\">During the same interview, Ms Humphreys became emotional when asked about criticism from Lucia O\u2019Farrell of the Fine Gael\u2019s candidate failure to support the family\u2019s campaign. <\/p>\n<p class=\"c-paragraph free b-it-article-body__text--left\">Last month, The Irish Times revealed that Ms O\u2019Farrell was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.irishtimes.com\/politics\/2025\/09\/26\/shane-ofarrells-mother-says-family-terribly-disappointed-by-heather-humphreys-stance\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" title=\"https:\/\/www.irishtimes.com\/politics\/2025\/09\/26\/shane-ofarrells-mother-says-family-terribly-disappointed-by-heather-humphreys-stance\/\" target=\"_blank\">\u201cterribly disappointed\u201d<\/a> that, as a TD and minister, Humphreys did not support the family\u2019s campaign for a public inquiry into the 2011 death of her son Shane in a hit-and-run by a man who was out on bail at the time.<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-paragraph free \">\u201cWhat can I say only that I\u2019m sorry, I really am sorry. And I wish, I wish that I could say something that would bring her son back. And I\u2019m sorry for the entire family and all that they\u2019ve had to go through. And I\u2019m glad they got their state apology, \u201d Ms Humphreys said. <\/p>\n<p class=\"c-paragraph free \">\u201cI\u2019m sorry that they feel that I haven\u2019t done enough. I genuinely am.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-paragraph free \">Presenter Collette Fitzpatrick commented that Ms Humphreys appeared to be emotional. Ms Humphreys said \u201cWell, I feel sorry for her, because, believe you me, we all have children, and that could have been any of us.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-paragraph free \">\u201cThe person that killed her son shouldn\u2019t have been on the road that day.\u201d <\/p>\n<p class=\"c-paragraph free \">Asked how she would feel if the Connolly campaign released a similar video about her, Ms Humphreys said that she had suffered \u201csectarian abuse\u201d throughout the campaign. <\/p>\n<p class=\"c-paragraph free \">\u201cThe amount of abuse that my family have received during this campaign on social media, and it\u2019s coming from the far left \u2026 the amount of abuse that they have received, I\u2019ve never seen the like of it before,\u201d Ms Humphreys said. <\/p>\n<p class=\"c-paragraph free \">\u201cThe amount of sectarian abuse that has been out there in terms of my religion and my traditions and where I come from.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-paragraph free b-it-article-body__text--left\">Ms Humphreys said she has not spoken to Ms O\u2019Farrell during the presidential campaign, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.irishtimes.com\/politics\/2025\/10\/20\/heather-humphreys-commits-to-meeting-shane-ofarrells-mother\/\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" title=\"https:\/\/www.irishtimes.com\/politics\/2025\/10\/20\/heather-humphreys-commits-to-meeting-shane-ofarrells-mother\/\">but committed to engaging with her in the future<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><b>Humphreys confirms Cootehill Credit Union pursued people through courts for debt<\/b><img decoding=\"async\" data-chromatic=\"ignore\" alt=\"Irish presidential candidate Heather Humphreys canvasses in Gorey in Co Wexford, ahead of polling day on Friday. Photograph: Gr&#xE1;inne N&#xED; Aodha\/PA Wire\" class=\"c-image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/5B2PTA56H4LLTTG7KVLNQKJVGQ.jpg\"   width=\"800\" height=\"579\"\/>Irish presidential candidate Heather Humphreys canvasses in Gorey in Co Wexford, ahead of polling day on Friday. Photograph: Gr\u00e1inne N\u00ed Aodha\/PA Wire <\/p>\n<p class=\"c-paragraph free \">Fine Gael candidate Heather Humphreys has said that her former Credit Union did pursue people through the courts for debt when she was the manager, but that she was never involved in repossession cases. <\/p>\n<p class=\"c-paragraph free b-it-article-body__text--left\">Speaking on The Big Interview on Virgin Media on Monday night, Ms Humphreys confirmed that Cootehill Credit Union had been forced to pursue people through the courts for debt, <b>Ellen Coyne<\/b> reports.<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-paragraph free \">Asked about whether she had pursued people for bad debt, Ms Humphreys said that when you work in a Credit Union you \u201ctry to work with people\u201d who can\u2019t pay back their loans. <\/p>\n<p class=\"c-paragraph free \">\u201cWhen you have exhausted all of those channels, there is a duty to collect the debt that is owed to the credit union. And yes, every credit union did the same thing,\u201d Ms Humphreys said. <\/p>\n<p class=\"c-paragraph free \">\u201cThere were people that had to go to court, but I didn\u2019t evict anybody out of their houses.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"c-paragraph free \">Ms Humphreys said that there were no repossession cases, but confirmed that she did have to pursue people through the courts. <\/p>\n<p class=\"c-paragraph free \">\u201cYou have to pay your debts. Otherwise, there would be no Credit Unions.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Main Points The final RT\u00c9 Prime Time presidential election takes place at 9.35pm. Heather Humphreys has committed to&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":135780,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[40],"tags":[9,10,1921,18,13,14,6,555,19,17,11,12,15,16,5,59,7,8],"class_list":{"0":"post-135779","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-ireland","8":"tag-breaking-news","9":"tag-breakingnews","10":"tag-catherine-connolly","11":"tag-eire","12":"tag-featured-news","13":"tag-featurednews","14":"tag-headlines","15":"tag-heather-humphreys","16":"tag-ie","17":"tag-ireland","18":"tag-latest-news","19":"tag-latestnews","20":"tag-main-news","21":"tag-mainnews","22":"tag-news","23":"tag-presidential-election","24":"tag-top-stories","25":"tag-topstories"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/135779","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=135779"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/135779\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/135780"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=135779"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=135779"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=135779"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}