CANDIDATES FACE OFF FOR FINAL TIME BEFORE VOTE

SPARKS FLY IN BLAST DEBATE...

- BY CIARA O'LOUGHLIN Politics Correspondent

PRESSURE Connolly, top, and Humphreys

IRISH presidential candidates Catherine Connolly and Heather Humphreys clashed repeatedly during their final debate last night.

The Fine Gael candidate and independent hopeful were grilled by Miriam O'Callaghan and Sarah McInerney on RTE One's Prime Time.

One of the early clashes surrounded Connolly's previous work as a barrister.

She hit back at the accusation that she avoided questions on repossession cases. When it was put to her that a reporter asked her seven times about whether she worked for banks in repossession cases and didn't answer, Connolly says she did answer the question.

Pushed by Ms McInerney on whether she did or not, Connolly said she worked for credit institutions but said she wouldn't specify who for.