Presidential Election 2025

A left wing/progressive td having progressive opinions? Who'd have thunk?

What was her political reasoning for chosing someone with an extremist background

Why would she need a 'political' reason if she believed she was giving someone a second chance/

Did she believe that the lady had reformed fully

She says she did.

Did she have evidence to support this possibility

Her own interaction and that of EoC's

Was she aware of the FULL extent, of the ladies extremist background

She says she was and that the woman didn't hide her past.

Did she view the video of, a mock execution of a foreign head of state, and did it alter her thinking on the matter

No idea.

Does she believe that the lady taking part in such a stunt, should be relevent to her appointment to Leinster House

If she thought the woman had reformed and was wanting a fresh start what relevance would something she did in the past have.

Did she believe that the selection would not be contentious, or at least, shouldnt be

At the time it doesn't appear to have been contentious.

Did she sincerely believe that, if appointed, the lady would pass a Garda background check

I didn't hear her say that but I would certainly assume she thought she would.

Does she see now, that it reflected poor judgement on her part

No, she hasn't said that.

If it was merely a question of giving someone a 'second chance', would appointing the lady to an OFF SITE position, not have demonstrated better judgement

Why? She either believed what she did or she didn't.

Could the lady have been employed in a contituency office, requiring less background checking by the Gardai

Maybe, but CC says she had the skills she required in her committee role at the time.

Given all of the above points, does she now regret her decisions surrounding this affair

Given the answers, I don't think she does.

Given a similar situation for another person, or persons; would she make the same choices regarding the selection of person(s) to work in Leinster house

Not for me to say.

I dont have to suspect a 'sinister motive' as a serious considertion in this story.

TBH I think we do need to know if the Gardai are releasing info. Hopefully the woman whose name has been dragged into this will pursue it.

Unlikely she will, it would be hard to prove. Very simply it could have been anyone with knowledge of the situation at the time, like someone who had to sign her in if Connolly wasn't present. Nice shifting to blame the gardai straight away though.

You have to get with the programme it is the sinister anti SF media, and broader anti Republican media agenda that are the cause of Catherine Connolly's problems. Not Connolly herself. 😉

They shouldn't have reported that Connolly ever visited Syria with Wallace and Daly on that "fact finding mission". The media shouldn't have reported Connolly's comments re current German defence spending and her comparison to 1930's Nazi Germany etc etc.

And the story re Ursula Ni Shionnain should never have been spoken of again EVER. She was outside that firearms dealers house in 2012, on what could have been a hen night anyway. Sure didn't Ursula and her mates have wigs on? Her mock execution of the British royal Queen c2011 was only a bit of craic as well. Good clean Republican fun.

https://secretireland.ie/eirigi-ireland-unpacking-the-misguided-socialist-republican-fringe-in-2025/

Is there any legal way to call the whole thing off and start again (Or just by default)??

What if CC and JG were, let's say to drop out in some way, either voluntarily, due to the controversies etc., leaving only HH.

Could one argue that there is no fair contest or options?

Is there a minimum turnout required for this?

Or are we locked in now? One of these 3 will be president?

Yeah, let's call off elections because someone doesn't rate the candidates! Yes one of these people will be President, well Jim Gavin won't be but one of the other two will.

Very much an allegation and one in which there is so far no evidence and JG is denying any knowledge or memory of it - I think it needs this person whoever they are to come out from behind anonymity

Absolutely. I have already said this is expected carry on in Presidential elections, particularly.

However the availability of some information is protected and privileged. And we should be concerned if lines are crossed with regard to that.

The optical damage has been done here, no doubt. We'll see what impact it has and there is nothing can be done about that.

I would agree with you someone somewhere pulled a stroke releasing the info.
But do you not see the irony in your concerns even though they are valid. The reason Ni Shionnain was not granted full access to Leinster House was because she was under the Gardai Vetting Process. And why she was been vetted throughly because of her Republican and criminal past.

And giving Ni Shionnain full access to Leinster House where she would availability to sensitive and privileged information was a serious question too.

I think most sensible CC supporters would see it's not a good look to have the word "Eirigi" next to your name in headlines to say the least. It's only going to get worse I reckon.

Ok i appreciate your response.

If i were to steelman your position here.

You dont believe that there should be any political reasoning, behind appointing a lady who has history with extremist groups. In your opinion, CC probably believed the lady would pass a background check despite everything, and you accept CC's opinion that the lady had reformed. You dont see relevence in the lady having taken part in the mock execution, given the aforementioned belief that she had reformed. Given your acceptence of the above, you dont see any benefit in Connolly perhaps choosing to appoint her to a position outside Leinster house. And you think it correct that CC should have no regrets about this incident. At least on this point you are stating, that given the answers to the questions posed, she has no regrets. (Im being as fair as i can, i dont want to speak for you)

I think the above is a fair summary of your points. Happy to be corrected, but you are entitled to your opinions. I for one dont agree with you. I think CC showed

• she lacks basic political savvy
• Her judgement is in question, based upon her stance on the subject
• A lack of political awareness that, this could come back and bite her
• I REALLY would like to know, if Connolly did view the video the mock execution
• She needs to explain entirely, how and why she judged the lady to be reformed
• She needs to outline the timeline for the entire incident

We just have to agree to disagree. I dont find her conduct defendable regarding the story. Others will agree with your opinion. I think beyond her base, who will support her no matter what, the story is damaging. And she needs more than her base, to win a Presidential Election