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.

Fianna Fail candidate Jim Gavin remains on the ballot paper and his votes will be counted as usual, despite the former GAA manager declaring he was no longer contesting the race.

The Irish Times reported yesterday that one of the men Ms Connolly met in Syria was a leader of a group charged with killing Palestinians in a refugee camp.

Asked if she was aware of this, Ms Connolly said: “No, I wasn't.