Connolly Clarifies Nomination of O’Doherty, States She “Did Not Support” Presidential Bid
DUBLIN – Catherine Connolly has stated unequivocally that she “did not support” Gemma O’Doherty’s 2018 presidential campaign, despite being one of the Oireachtas members who nominated her. Speaking on RTÉ’s This Week program, Connolly clarified her role in the nomination process, emphasizing it was about facilitating a contest, not an endorsement.
“I did not and do not support Gemma O’Doherty, but I made a decision to be one of many nominees to give her a chance to stand,” Connolly stated. She added that framing the nomination as a sign of support for O’Doherty, or a lack of support for then-president Michael D. Higgins,was “not accurate,” expressing “the greatest of respect” for Higgins.
Connolly acknowledged she “can’t remember” being aware of a prior interview given by O’Doherty raising questions about the safety of the HPV vaccine at the time of the nomination. She explained her decision was based on O’Doherty’s previous journalistic work, specifically investigations she had undertaken. “What I do remember… was that this woman had done some good work in relation to as a journalist, in relation to investigations. And so I made that decision at that time… it’s really crucial to say that’s not the same as endorsing somebody.”
The clarification comes as O’Doherty faces ongoing legal challenges, including being blank” rel=”noopener noreferrer” href=”https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/courtandcrime/arid-41279068.html”>sued by the brother of slain journalist Veronica Guerin.
Connolly also addressed questions regarding a 2018 visit to Syria, admitting a meeting with a supporter of Bashar al-Assad was “certainly in retrospect” a mistake. Though, she maintained the visit, including meetings with refugees, was valuable, “empowering and enabling” her to advocate more effectively for peace.
Connolly firmly rejected speculation about potential appointments to the Council of State, specifically dismissing the possibility of appointing former TDs and MEPs Clare Daly and Mick Wallace. She noted the media had repeatedly focused on her relationship with the pair, recalling a journalist specifically asking if they would “come out of Buswell’s [Hotel] to support me.” Connolly pointed out that at the time, “one wasn’t in the country and one wasn’t near the Dáil,” characterizing the line of questioning as a distraction from more critically important campaign issues.
