Mitchell denies anti-McGuinness strategy
Fine Gael's Gay Mitchell has denied his strategy is to attack Martin McGuinness after heated exchanges in last night's Presidential candidates' debate on TV3.
Mr McGuinness came under fire from host Vincent Browne and from Mr Mitchell for his assertion that he left the IRA in 1974. Mr McGuinness also said he believed the issue of his IRA membership, and when it ended, was not of concern to the people he met on the campaign trail.
"I'm not ashamed of anything I have done," he said after the debate. "I joined the IRA when I was very young. The people of Derry were being beaten off the streets. They were being shot off the streets by the British Army…What was I to do?...We fought back. Am I ashamed of that? Not on your nelly."
Mr Mitchell said: "I ask questions about Martin McGuinness because Martin has raised these questions himself. I'm talking about issues he's raising now. These are legitimate questions to raise."
The candidates each faced close questioning from Vincent Browne during the debate.
Senator David Norris came under pressure to explain who gave him legal advice not to release clemency letters he wrote on behalf of his former lover who had been convicted of the statutory rape of a 15-year-old boy.
Independent candidate Mary Davis denied any conflict of interest after a PR company her husband is a director of won a contract from the charity Social Entrepreneurs, which they were both members of.
"There was absolutely no conflict of interest whatsoever. I never sat in when there was discussion around (public relations) contracts," she said.
Michael D Higgins said the candidates had " made a beginning" in addressing the key issues of the campaign.
Sean Gallagher agreed, and said the candidates had had "the first half of the debate, about getting from the past to the present". He said he now wished to move on to the future, and in particular tackling the jobs crisis.
Dana Rosemary Scallon said she did not take "much note" of the opinion polls which placed her last in the race.
"I have never been anywhere but the bottom of the opinion polls since I ran in 1997, but the voting has always been different to that…I think if I was high up in the polls, I'd be more worried," she said.
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