Murphy sues Humphreys for comments on RTE debate

Presidential candidate Heather Humphreys is being sued over remarks she made about a politician supporting her election rival during a radio debate.

People Before Profit-Solidarity TD Paul Murphy is taking the action against Ms Humphreys after initially sending her campaign a legal letter over comments made during the This Week radio programme on RTE on October 12.

In that legal letter through Prospect Law, Mr Murphy alleges that the Fine Gael candidate for the presidency had made “grossly defamatory” comments about him.

It relates to comments Ms Humphreys made about Mr Murphy and a protest in Jobstown more than 10 years ago.

Mr Murphy was one of six men charged with false imprisonment of former Labour Party leader Joan Burton and her assistant Karen O’Connell in a car on November 15 2014 during the protest.

They were all acquitted of the charges in 2017.

His legal representatives argue that he has suffered reputational damage through Ms Humphreys’ recent comments about the incident, which he said suggested he engaged in violent criminal conduct, committed an act of gender-based violence and is a misogynist, and subjected Ms Burton to imprisonment.

The letter, dated October 13, asked for a withdrawal of the remarks, an undertaking not to repeat them, an apology, legal costs and suitable compensation.

Ms Humphreys told reporters on Wednesday: “I accept that Paul Murphy was not found guilty but Paul Murphy wasn’t at home watching television that day.”

Legal documents were filed to the High Court on Wednesday and it is understood there has been no action taken against RTE.

Ms Humphreys and Mr Murphy have been asked for comment on Thursday.

The development comes as the latest poll shows that Catherine Connolly holds a significant lead in the race.

Ms Connolly, a left-wing independent TD backed by opposition parties including Sinn Fein and People Before Profit, is on 38%, ahead of Fine Gael’s Ms Humphreys on 20%.

The Irish Times/Ipsos B&A poll says support for Fianna Fail candidate Jim Gavin, who pulled out of the contest, is at 5%.

Reacting to the figures, Ms Connolly told reporters that “polls don’t win elections” and said she would continue canvassing every day.

Some 12% of voters said they would not vote, 6% said they would spoil their ballot and the number of undecideds was at 18%.

The poll involved 1,200 face-to-face in-home interviews with adults between October 12-14, throughout all constituencies.

The accuracy is estimated at plus or minus 2.8%

When those voters are excluded, Ms Connolly is on 60%, Ms Humphreys is on 32%, and Mr Gavin is on 8%, with the Fianna Fail candidate’s vote projected to split fairly evenly if they were to be redistributed to the remaining hopefuls.

Mr Gavin withdrew from the race on October 5 after being dogged by a controversy over owing a former tenant 3,300 euro.

He has since paid the money back.

Despite his declaration to drop out, electoral rules mean that Mr Gavin’s name will still appear on the ballot paper and his votes will be counted as normal.

Ms Connolly’s campaign itinerary for Thursday includes events across Dublin.

Speaking to reporters, she defended comments she made about the Brexit referendum in 2016 when she said she was “full of admiration for the English people who have stood up to a terrible bullying campaign” from the “establishment”, adding that the EU had been exposed

Asked about the comments, she said: “I’m absolutely, firmly committed to the European Union.

“I have always been constructively critical.

“My comments in relation to Brexit was the manner in which the electorate were being commented upon.

“I was talking about the importance of democracy and whether I liked the result or not, that was a decision, a sovereign decision by the people.”