Presidential Election 2025

There was ridicule among many of the 'neutral' pol corrs, gov back benches and some ministers, centrist X accounts and of course many here…it's amusing watching how it's unfolded.

The backing of CC made eminent sense for the Shinners and was always going to be significant for CC.

Heather on Newstalk right now.

CC was a barrister.

Well thanks for your reply.

My opinion is based on the information that has been made available. Of course, I have read multiple stories, and legal opinions that have gone public. I am not a barrister, and have only a small familiarity with the law, thanks to my Politics degree. Im happy to be debunked by someone who can speak with more authority. I stand by my stance on this matter. I have been criticizing Catherine Connolly for weeks, on her policy positions. Specifically on her Foreign Policy stance regarding the EU, which i think is flawed.

On the current Barrister/Repo story, I am very vocal in attacking it. I believe its an invented story, based on faulty logic. And i am firm in referring to it as a smear. FG created it, so that they can appear credible in calling Connolly a hypocrit. But its a total smear as far as I am concerned. Of course the topic is still open for discussion, but IMHO, the story is not a valid move to make.

I would be curious to know if CC worked as a barrister with a company or did she work as a sole trader ie worked for herself. (quoted from above post)

My understanding is that she was a private barrister, possibly working with a group of other loosly affiliated barristers. But i think what you are getting at, is whether she was part of a firm (Smith, Fallon and Jones etc). No as far as I am aware, that was not the case. Its relevant though, because if she was part of a firm, who had taken on a large bank as a client, she could TECHNICALLY, have resigned? While remaining a barrister. Im not entirely positive she could have abandoned all legal obligations to the bank/client in this case though - someone else could possibly answer that. But as far as I know, she was a sole trader, possibly sharing space with other similiar barristers.

As to who it is who assigns cases, im assuming its the DPP? (Director of Public Prosecutions) or some analagous department within the judicial system, for civil cases. (Happy to receive clarification on this)

My understanding is that the cases are handed out following the 'Cab Rank Rule', assigning cases to independent 'Sole Trading' Barristers; which is how/why CC would end up representing banks. CBR means a barrister receives a case, which they must work on, provided there are no conflicts of interest.

There are a few get out clauses (if the 'job' will require too much time in relation to other case, if the client will be unable to offer adequate compensation/pay). Otherwise, unless and until it can be proved that a serious conflict of interest exists, the barrister in question is stuck with the case. This, i believe, explains why CC may well have represented Banks in repossession cases.

Im happy to debate this with you, and i want to be clear; I wasnt personally attacking you, or trying to get snippy. My stance is, there are many reasons to criticize Catherine Connolly in this election cycle. But criticizing a barrister, for being a barrister, and for performing her duties as required within the system, is not a valid move. In my opinion it is a smear, and one that has been invented to allow FG, HH, and their supporters, to call CC a hypocrit. And i cannot get behind that at all.

Aside from it being unwise to drag the Irish Legal System, into party politics, I actually think that the very move itself, reeks of desperation, and ACTUAL hypocrisy. FG were in power, while these repossessions were taking place; I just think its a pointless smear, it wont move the dial, and it shouldnt IMHO. It also sets a strange precident, because many TD's and politicians have backgrounds as barristers. But this is the first time, as far as i know, that their record of cases has ever entered the public sphere, to say nothing of an ongoing election.

Happy to debate, discuss, so by all means lets continue. If some evidence can be offered to despute, or wreck, my take on this; please dont hold back. but from what I have gathered, i am confident in my opinion.

Is it not the case that a solicitor for the bank requests the services of a particular barrister who they believe has expertise in the field?

I think the cab rank analogy applies to the "cab" only i.e. the barrister must accept the case. But the client can choose from any "cab" in the rank. Open to correction of course.

Catherine Connolly - 44% (+8)

Heather Humphreys - 25% (nc)

Jim Gavin - 10% (-2)

Undecided - 21% (-6)

Operation Smear pushing people to vote for Connolly shows that FFG are hilariously out of touch.

they need to get the official FFG spin memo first.

To take a quote from "The Wild Geese", not even Jesus could get through that.

Napoleon once said that he preferred a lucky general to a good general leading his army…..or something to that effect.

Connolly will be the next president and will ensure her place in history not for her talents, her track record, her vision for the job, her morals or her personality but for the simple reason that she got lucky.

Lucky that Sinn Féin did not run a candidate, that Martin & FF did the mother of all cockups when they selected their man Gavin. Lucky that M. McGuiness had to withdraw and that FG selected HH Lucky that FFG gerrymandered the candidate selection process so other non party potential candidates could be nominated by co. councils etc. All of the above were out of Connolly's control yet played straight into her lap and she's about to reap the benefit.

So boys & girls if you can't be good be lucky.

oops a slight typo error — should read '' so other non party potential candidates could NOT be nominated………

That poll is brutal for HH