Posted by The woman has since completed a PhD and works in the Irish language sector
However, Deputy Connolly — who insists she abhors violence — is standing by her decision to take on Ursula Ni Shionnain.
She claimed the ex-con had turned her life around as she said: “I believe in giving someone a chance in life.”
Ni Shionnain was a member of the republican group Eirigi and was arrested along with three others outside a gun dealership in Co Offaly in November 2012.
Gardai had received info that dissident republicans planned to rob the licensed firearms seller.
Four people — including the Dubliner — were found wearing wigs and disguises in a van outside the dealership.
Gardai also found two handguns, ammunition, black pillow cases, cable ties and petrol in the van.
All four pleaded not guilty to charges relating to the incident at the Special Criminal Court but offered no evidence in their defence and were later convicted.
Ni Shionnain was sentenced to six years for her role in the heist plans but was released from prison after four-and-a-half years.
She was a prominent member of Eirigi, a socialist republican group that opposed the Good Friday Agreement and power-sharing in Northern Ireland.
Ni Shionnain is also a Trinity graduate with a BA in Early and Modern Irish and a masters from Maynooth in Language Planning.
Fine Gael rival Heather Humphreys said: “This is a very serious issue. This person was a member of Eirigi. Of course, that is the organisation that tried to dismantle the Good Friday Agreement.
“She obviously was working in the Houses of the Oireachtas for six months.
“My concern here, and I think Catherine does need to explain this, is how come she had access to the Oireachtas without Garda clearance.
“Everybody knows when you apply for a job, you must be vetted by An Garda Siochana, and you can’t take up that job until the vetting has been completed.
“And you know, Catherine really does have questions to answer here.”
Connolly staunchly defended the decision to hire the ex-con, who she said had been recommended to her by a number of TDs who had been doing work to help rehabilitate prisoners.
Who Watches the Watchers? 
Bit rich of Fianna Fail when Lowry is part of their govt. Also FF have contributed to deaths: they crashed the economy and welcomed in the scum of the earth. People are committing suicide, dying on hospital trolleys, being stabbed in the street, old people freezing to death in their homes… And let’s not forget the babies dying before they’re born – literally being killed in their mothers’ wombs.
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