PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE HEATHER Humphreys has said she is “disappointed” that People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy is suing her for defamation.

The case concerns remarks made by the former Fine Gael TD and minister during a presidential debate regarding Murphy’s involvement in an anti-water charges protest that took place eleven years ago.

Defamation proceedings were initiated yesterday against Humphreys, court documents show.

Murphy had previously warned that he would pursue legal action against Humphreys – his solicitors submitted a legal letter to Humphreys earlier this week which stated that her remarks could be understood to mean that Murphy engaged in “violent criminal conduct” and committed “an act of gender-based violence”.

It states that her remarks were “grossly defamatory” and that Murphy has “suffered in his character and reputation” and has been exposed to “odium, ridicule, and contempt”.

Speaking on RTÉ Radio One this afternoon, Humphreys said suing for defamation is “a tactic of the hard Left and Sinn Féin”.

The lawsuit follows comments which Humphreys made during RTÉ’s This Week on Sunday about the 2014 Jobstown protest, where six men, including Paul Murphy, were charged with the false imprisonment of then Tánaiste Joan Burton and her assistant.

All six men were found not guilty by a jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in 2017.

Humphreys also said today: “I accept the decision of the courts, but I am disappointed that Catherine Connolly’s campaign manager Paul Murphy has decided to take legal proceedings against me.”

In a post on social media, Murphy replied to Humphrey’s comment today, stating: “As Heather Humphrey well knows and has been publicly reported, Béibhinn O’Connor is Catherine Connolly’s campaign manager.”

“I’d say she is doing a pretty excellent job,” he added.

Speaking to reporters on the campaign trail today, Humphreys defended her judgement when questioned over the issue.

Humphreys said it does “absolutely not” undermine her previous claims to be able to speak diplomatically if elected president.

“I will be proud if elected as president to represent Ireland on the world stage, and you can be sure that I won’t insult our neighbors,” Humphrey said.

The former Cabinet minister then added a list of countries that Connolly has been accused of insulting via the Independent’s critiques about increasing militarism in Europe and elsewhere.

“I won’t insult our allies. I won’t insult Germany. I won’t insult France. I won’t insult to UK and I won’t insult the US,” Humphreys said.

Connolly campaign reaction

The Journal understands Murphy did not inform Connolly’s campaign team before taking the legal action.

Connolly’s campaign team also took issue with Humphreys repeatedly referring to Murphy as Connolly’s “campaign manager” today.

The Fine Gael candidate incorrectly described Murphy as Connolly’s campaign manager on RTÉ Radio’s News at One programme this afternoon.

“It’s entirely inaccurate, the name of the campaign manager has been widely disseminated in the newspapers,” a spokesperson for the Connolly campaign said.

With reporting by Jane Matthews and Eoghan Dalton