AS THE presidential election campaign began with a series of intensive debates among the seven candidates, David Norris and Martin McGuinness continued to face awkward questions.
Mr Norris again defended his decision not to publish controversial clemency letters sent on behalf of former partner Ezra Nawi who was convicted of statutory rape of a 15-year-old boy. Mr Norris said he was not publishing the letters as that could “prejudice the situation”.
However, legal sources last night expressed surprise at the suggestion that professional legal privilege attached to the letters as this normally applies to correspondence between lawyers and clients, not between non-lawyers on a legal matter.
Professional legal privilege is based on the assumption that people need skilled legal professionals when involved in litigation but as Mr Norris was not involved in the Nawi case, and not legally represented in relation to it, professional legal privilege would not arise, according to the sources.
Asked if Mr Norris should publish the Nawi letters, Taoiseach Enda Kenny called on all candidates to be open and upfront with the electorate.
Mr McGuinness was again asked by journalists yesterday about specific IRA killings, particularly the incident in 1990 when Patsy Gillespie was forced to drive a car containing explosives to a Border checkpoint, resulting in his death and that of five soldiers.
In the first presidential debate on RTÉ Radio, Fine Gael candidate Gay Mitchell said he was not afraid to ruffle a few feathers when necessary to stand up for the rights of people.
Labour Party candidate Michael D Higgins said at his campaign launch that he would be completely independent of the Fine Gael-Labour Coalition if elected.
Special Olympics chief executive Mary Davis argued she was best suited to building on President Mary McAleese’s tenure, Independent candidate Seán Gallagher said he wanted to reach out to those who had been excluded, while late Áras entrant Dana Rosemary Scallon said she was running because people had told her they wanted a choice in the election.
The former Eurovision winner and MEP said she believed she would grow into the role of president and stressed that it was not compulsory to be a barrister to serve in the role.