Connolly defends visit to Syria

Aras hopeful had 'no control' over who she met Humphreys grilled over death of constituent's son

- BY CILLIAN SHERLOCK

CATHERINE Connolly said she had “no control” over who she met while on a 2018 visit to Syria in which she encountered pro-Assad figures.

In a broadcast presidential debate with Ms Connolly yesterday, Fine Gael candidate Heather Humphreys also said she “did her best” for a constituent, despite voting against an inquiry into the circumstances of her son's death.

The two candidates were questioned on a series of controversies during a Morning Ireland debate on RTE Radio One, a week out from the vote on October 24.

The latest opinion poll put Ms Connolly on 38% and Ms Humphreys trailing on 20%, with a large amount of undecideds still to play for.