Catherine Connolly defends decision to hire woman convicted of gun offences

Independent candidate Catherine Connolly has defended her decision to hire a woman who had been convicted of firearms offences by the Special Criminal Court in 2014 to work in Leinster House.

The Journal reports that Ms Connolly sought to hire a woman as an administrative support in 2018, after she had been sentenced to six years in prison after being found guilty by the Special Criminal Court of unlawful possession of firearms and possession of ammunition.

Ursula Shannon and three men were intercepted by armed gardaí in a stolen van outside the premises of the firearms dealer, wearing wigs and disguises before the suspected planned robbery in November 2012.

A search of the vehicle revealed it contained two handguns and a stun gun, along with ammunition, cable ties, black pillowcases, canisters of petrol, wigs and disguises.

Ms Connolly sought to hire Ms Shannon in 2018, following her early release from prison.

Speaking to RTÉ’s Today with Claire Byrne, Ms Connolly said it is “unfortunate that her name is in the press and that she’s been hauled through this”.

“She served her time in prison, and she was recommended to me, she was absolutely perfect for the job and I took her on,” she said, adding that Ms Shannon had “explained everything” from day one and worked in Leinster House for less than six months.

“The clearance process took some time and in the end, she left of her own volition. She was there for less than six months.”

Ms Connolly said the woman was recommended to her and Ms Shannon had met a committee of TDs, such as Éamon Ó Cúiv, Clare Daly, Thomas Pringle and Maureen O’Sullivan, who visit prisons and work with prisoners, including Republican prisoners.

“I abhor violence and this person served her time in prison, and she came out earlier than her term. I also abhor hypocrisy, yesterday on your show, I think you had a feature on how difficult it is for prisoners to get jobs. It was a very good feature on how difficult it is,” she said.

“Here was this person who had done her time, realised she had done something wrong, was an absolute model prisoner, had started her PhD in the prisons and facilities were made for her, and she was looking to go back into the workforce. And so I gave her an opportunity.”

Ms Connolly said that she had not had any contact from gardaí in relation to the matter and the clearance process had “no outcome”.

“The process just went on and on and in the end the person left.”

She said she had no control or influence over the process and rejected that anyone in a position of authority in Leinster House had contacted her on the issue.

Ms Connolly repeated that she both abhors violence and hypocrisy, adding: “If we have a prison system to protect the public on the one hand and also to rehabilitate and to allow a prisoner back into society, then we must look at that.”

She is proud that Ms Shannon has “gone on to greater things”.

“I absolutely regret that she has been dragged into this in such a public way. It really lays bare our hypocrisy, if we believe in rehabilitation,” she said.

On whether it prompts questions of Ms Connolly’s judgement, she said: “Quite the contrary. I took a careful time to reflect on this. I discussed this with TDs, who, part of a committee that visited Republican prisoners.

“I believe in rehabilitation. I believe in giving someone a chance in life. My whole life, public life, has been devoted to raising my voice for those that didn’t have a chance and those that committed crimes and then a chance for rehabilitation.”

She added: “We can’t send someone to prison, and they’re a model prisoner, they do everything, they realise that what they’ve done is wrong. They change their life, and they move in a new direction. What message would we be sending out if we don’t believe that?”

Ms Connolly said she voted against the Special Criminal Court during her time in politics but that her position is “immaterial”.

“I respect whatever court is there, we comply with the rule of law,” she said.

“I’m a Democrat to my fingertips. Convicted, served time, was let out early for good behaviour, and was a model prisoner. I mean, how many times will I repeat?”

Asked whether people may see her as someone who aligned themselves with someone who does not support the Good Friday Agreement, Ms Connolly said: “Absolutely not, I think people see me for what I am, and they’ve seen my record in the Dáil since 2016 and prior to that from June 1999 as a city councillor onwards, they know exactly what I stand for.”

On where she places herself of a political spectrum, Ms Connolly said: “I have been allergic to label all my life, labels are used to put someone into a box, to other them, to put them out there and make it easier not to agree with them.”

Asked whether she would be comfortable with the “trappings” of the Áras, Ms Connolly said: “I think anyone that gets comfortable with power needs to reflect.

“I think we all need to reflect when we get comfortable with power. And so, I will absolutely rise to the role of President. I will rise to that with integrity, honesty and courage, because it represents the best of Irish people. People have placed their trust in me, and I will not let them down.” Maeve McTaggart