Humphreys criticises Connolly over Leinster House access for former inmate
By Cillian Sherlock, PA
TDs should be able to sign people in to Leinster House on day passes “for maybe two or three weeks” while awaiting more formal approval, Heather Humphreys has said, as she criticised Catherine Connolly for providing six months’ access to a woman convicted of a firearms offence.
Ms Humphreys condemned Ms Connolly after it emerged she had employed a woman in Leinster House who had been found guilty by the Special Criminal Court for possession of firearms and ammunition more than 10 years ago.
After serving more than four years, the former Éirígí member was shortly thereafter recruited by Ms Connolly to work on a committee on the Irish language.
Éirígí, a registered political party, opposed the Good Friday Agreement.
Ms Connolly said she had signed the woman in for day passes to Leinster House but she left her work before the outcome of a clearing process for a regular access pass – which went on for six months.
On Tuesday, Ms Humphreys said Ms Connolly had put the security of the national parliament at risk.
She added: “She brought her in for six months on a day pass. You bring people in on a day pass for maybe two or three weeks, if you have to because you’re waiting – she never got the clearance.”
Ms Connolly said this comment showed “truth emerging” and that people are signed in on day passes while the clearance process is ongoing.
She said: “Heather has just confirmed you bring somebody in on a day pass for a few weeks, that’s exactly what happened.
“And the weeks continued because there was no answer in relation to the process.”
However, Ms Humphreys contended that six months was too long.
Ms Connolly said the woman underwent rehabilitation.
She said: “Are we going to look at what rehabilitation means? Are we going to double and trebly punish people?”
She added: “This woman is an absolute success story of the prison system, a success story that we absolutely need, who fully rehabilitated her life.”
Ms Connolly said she sent an inquiry about the delay and received a “vague” response.
She said no rules had been broken in the process and that she had no contact with the gardai on the matter.
In response, Ms Humphreys said the woman had committed a crime.
