In 2014, Ursula Ní Shionnain was arrested by Gardaí and subsequently jailed along with three others. Speaking on RTÉ, the presidential candidate described Ms Ní Shionnáin, who has a PhD in Irish, as “absolutely perfect for the job”. “Catherine Connolly says that this woman was no longer a member of éirigí when she employed her,” he said. Catherine Connolly says she checked her out after her release and employed her because she had rehabilitated herself. “Privately, I can tell you for sure that some of Ms Connolly’s backers were very nervous about it,” he said.