Election Daily podcast: Is Fine Gael’s ‘attack ad’ tactic backfiring?

Ellen Coyne and Pat Leahy report on today's campaign news

Listen | 29:24
Irish presidential election candidates: Independent Catherine Connolly (left) and Fine Gael's Heather Humphreys. Photograph: Dara MacDónaill/The Irish Times & Sam Boal/Collins.
Irish presidential election candidates: Independent Catherine Connolly (left) and Fine Gael's Heather Humphreys. Photograph: Dara MacDónaill/The Irish Times & Sam Boal/Collins.

Ellen Coyne and Pat Leahy join Hugh to talk about the all the latest from the presidential election campaign.

There is one topic dominating the campaign today, or two related topics: Catherine Connolly’s record as a barrister who worked on behalf of financial institutions in the aftermath of the property crash, and Fine Gael’s negative campaigning around that record.

A video posted by Fine Gael to social media and an interview Humphreys gave to a Sunday newspaper drew attention to the issue but also drew a huge negative reaction from Connolly supporters and from others who believe Connolly should be above such criticism due to how barristers are assigned cases.

Ellen assesses Fine Gael’s tactics. Who is their video really aimed at: voters or journalists? Meanwhile Pat has been speaking to members of the Bar to find out whether Connolly has any case to answer.

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