Higgins: Sabina's visit to peace activist 'private and personal'
The President Michael D Higgins is defending his wife's decision to visit a jailed anti-war activist.
Sabina Higgins visited 79-year-old Margaretta D'Arcy in Limerick Prison at the weekend.
She was jailed last week for illegally accessing a runway at Shannon Airport during a protest against the US Military.
Michael D Higgins says his wife was visiting a long-standing friend in a personal and private capacity
He says whether it was appropriate or not, does not arise at all.
He said: "Sabina is a person who can speak for herself as well and is a person of a very good judgement.
"We do a lot of things together, but we do a lot of other things also, so no it is not for me to comment, this is a private and personal visit.
"But it really is a private and personal visit to her friend who is fragile and her friend who is a fellow artist."
However, Fianna Fáil has questioned remarks from the Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore about the release of a peace activist from prison.
Mr Gilmore says he hopes Margaretta D'Arcy's legal team are working to secure her release as soon as possible.
Fianna Fail's Micheal McGrath says politicians cannot have a role in the judicial process.
