Catherine Connolly clarifies she won’t hire anyone with a sex offense conviction, after backlash over her initial hesitation to hire a convicted rapist.

Catherine Connolly clarified she would not hire anyone with a sex offense conviction requiring registration, following backlash over her initial hesitation to hire a convicted rapist. Former Fine Gael minister Heather Humphreys expressed shock at Connolly’s earlier remarks, stating she would not employ a convicted rapist, citing victim sensitivity and crime severity. Humphreys defended her stance during a campaign stop, dismissing claims of a smear campaign and emphasizing her focus on unity and leadership.