Updated at 16:15

SENATOR DAVID NORRIS used official Seanad headed notepaper to write appealing for clemency for his former partner Ezra Tizhak Nawi, it has been claimed.

The Palestinian activist has been convicted by an Israeli court of having sex with an underage Palestinian teenager in 1992.

Speaking on RTÉ’s Saturday View this afternoon, Trinity College lecturer Dr Elaine Byrne said that the letters had been leaked, but that no clear recipient is known. She said further details are expected to be published tomorrow in the Irish Mail on Sunday.

However, the newspaper said this afternoon that it would not comment on what it was or wasn’t publishing tomorrow and added that Byrne’s comments are “categorically untrue in every respect”, according to Suzy Byrne of Maman Poulet.

Elaine Byrne also said she spoke to members of Norris’ campaign staff who said they felt that the presidential candidate was not forthright enough with them and they were not aware of all the relevant information.

TheJournal.ie has not been able to make contact with Norris’ campaign team today.

Two senior members of his campaign staff resigned from their positions without offering explanations, according to newspaper reports today. At least three other campaign members said today they were resigning from the youth campaign team, but without elaborating further.

Journalist Una Mullally wrote:

Enjoyed volunteering in a small role for the Norris for President campaign. To clarify, in light of new information I am no longer doing so.

Orlaith Foley said:

As of this morning,I have resigned from the Norris for President campaign team and no longer hold the role of Youth Coordinator. #aras11

Earlier this year, Norris was involved in a controversy regarding comments he made during a 2002 magazine interview regarding pederasty.

Read: Candidates meet for first presidential debate as Norris staff quit