Connolly defends work with woman convicted of gun crime

A woman who was convicted of a gun crime was “perfect for the job” working with an Oireachtas committee, presidential candidate Catherine Connolly has said.

It comes after The Journal reported on Wednesday that Ms Connolly sought the help of a woman who was sentenced to several years in jail after being found guilty by the Special Criminal Court for possession of firearms and ammunition more than 10 years ago.

After serving more than four years, she was recruited by Ms Connolly upon her release to work on a committee on the Irish language.

Ms Connolly said on Thursday she had no contact with gardai in relation to the process, adding that nobody ever told her it was inappropriate for the woman to take up a role in Leinster House.

She said the woman left Leinster House before the outcome of a clearing process for a regular access pass, which went on for several months.

She told RTE Radio it was “unfortunate” the woman was “being hauled through this”.

“She served her time in prison and she was recommended to me – she was absolutely perfect for the job.

“I took her on, and it was for three days, and over the period of time, she from day one, she filled out an application form, explained everything and just the clearance process took some time, and in the end she left of her own volition.”

Ms Connolly said she believed in rehabilitation, that the woman had been recommended to her and that she had been a “model prisoner”.

She said the woman had realised what she done was “utterly wrong” and had rehabilitated herself, and “gone on to greater things”.

Earlier, the Taoiseach criticised Ms Connolly for a “serious lack of judgment”.

Asked about the reports, Taoiseach and Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin said it was a “very serious matter”.

He told reporters at an event in Copenhagen that Eirigi, of which the woman was a member, was an organisation that “did everything to undermine the Irish peace process”.

He added: “That would indicate a very serious lack of judgment and I think Catherine Connolly needs to clarify that in its entirety and be fully transparent in respect of it.

“But it is a very, very serious issue as far as I’m concerned – I think most people would be.”

Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald said it was her understanding Ms Connolly followed all appropriate processes and procedures, adding she was satisfied with her “good and appropriate judgment”.

She added: “I would also say this. Thirty years now into a peace process, it is always a good outcome when anybody becomes fully engaged with that process and supportive of it.”

She said she had not discussed the matter with Ms Connolly but may do so at a later date. She said she also believes in people getting the “chance to rebuild their lives”.

Meanwhile, Mr Martin downplayed mistakes made by his party’s campaign for presidential candidate Jim Gavin.

Mr Gavin, who is chief operations officer at the Irish Aviation Authority and has served in the Defence Forces, had to acknowledge the incorrect use of drones in campaign videos and remove a picture from social media featuring Defence Forces chief of staff Rossa Mulcahy.