PEOPLE BEFORE PROFIT TD Paul Murphy has sent a legal letter to Heather Humphreys over comments she made during a presidential debate.

During the debate on RTÉ’s This Week programme on Sunday, the Fine Gael presidential candidate made comments referring to an incident involving former Labour leader Joan Burton in Jobstown in 2014. A court cleared Murphy of any wrongdoing in 2017. 

Murphy’s solicitors have sent a letter to Humphreys stating that he intends to issue defamation proceedings in the High Court next week “if there is no agreement between us”. 

The letter, which has been seen by The Journal,  states 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”.

The letter calls on Humphreys to apologise to Murphy, immediately withdraw her remarks and “undertake not to repeat the said comments”. 

She is also asked to meet his legal costs related to this matter and to make proposals for “suitable compensation”.