"Ms Connolly has since defended her decision to hire Ms Ní Shionnáin who, she claims, had "absolutely rehabilitated" during her four-and-a-half years spent in prison. "I was curious to see this woman and her background and what she had achieved in prison," she told The Hard Shoulder programme on Newstalk. "I made a decision to give her work based on her rehabilitation, and I think it's really important that I keep saying this. I had absolutely no role with anything to do with the vetting of this woman. "Where are we going as a society if we're going to punish them again and again?""
"She said that the traction gained by the story over recent days has been designed so as to "do me damage", in spite of Ms Ní Shionnáin's rehabilitation. Ms Connolly said she did not ask Ms Ní Shionnáin about her reasons for attempting to acquire weaponry due to hiring her "based on her rehabilitation" alone. The presidential candidate added that her decision to hire her was "based on suitability of the person","
Ms Connolly employed Ursula Ní Shionnáin in 2019 despite Ní Shionnáin's 2012 conviction for possessing a weapon and ammunition after an arrest outside an arms dealer's house in Co Offaly. Ms Connolly said Ní Shionnáin spent four-and-a-half years in prison and had "absolutely rehabilitated". Ms Connolly stated she hired Ní Shionnáin based on rehabilitation and suitability and denied any role in vetting. Ms Connolly questioned repeated punishment of rehabilitated people and said she did not ask about reasons for attempting to acquire weaponry. Ms Connolly hesitated on a hypothetical hiring of a convicted rapist and would not commit to signing legislation to dismantle the Triple Lock.
Read at Irish Independent
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