Connolly

Catherine Connolly has been elected as the president of Ireland after a landslide victory.

She has become the 10th president of the Republic of Ireland after defeating Fine Gael’s Heather Humphreys, who had already conceded to her rival.

The result, long clear from early tallies, was officially declared at Dublin Castle.

Connolly – an independent who was backed by the major left-wing parties – pledged to be “an inclusive president for all” in her acceptance speech.

The 68-year-old, from Galway, has been a TD (member of the Irish parliament) since 2016.

She will be the country’s 10th president, taking over from Michael D Higgins who has served the maximum two terms in office

Connolly secured 914,143 first preference votes (63%), the largest amount in Irish presidential election history.

She made her acceptance speech first in Irish and then in English.

“I will be a president who listens and reflects and who speaks when it’s necessary,” she said.

“I will be a voice for peace, a voice that builds on our policy of neutrality, a voice that articulates the existential threat posed by climate change, and a voice that recognises the tremendous work being done the length and breadth of the country.”

Dublin correspondent Gabija Gataveckaite said Connolly was the anti-establishment candidate who took on Humphreys, the government’s pick.

She said in recent weeks, Connolly had been insisting her campaign was a “movement” and she has now won a clear mandate from the people.

Humphreys, who spoke after Connolly, thanked everyone who voted for her, her campaign team and Fine Gael for the nomination.

“I know Catherine will be a president for all of us. Catherine will be my president and I want to wish her well, this is her evening,” she said.

The president of Ireland is the country’s head of state. They represent the country abroad, take centre stage at major national events, and are responsible for ensuring that the constitution – the set of rules for government and politics – is followed.

While the president’s powers are limited, the office-holder’s influence can be profound.

Connolly will be inaugurated on 11 November with Higgins leaving office the day before.

Taoiseach (Irish prime minister) Micheál Martin said an “outstanding honour” had been bestowed upon Connolly.

“The people have spoken resoundingly and given Catherine a tremendous majority and a very clear mandate,” he said.

Tánaiste (Ireland’s deputy prime minister) Simon Harris said: “The great thing about this country is that we live in enduring democracy.

“We have an election, we go at it hammer and tongs and then we come together proudly behind the winner of the election.”

Earlier he acknowledged the high level of spoiled votes, saying he saw “people going to quite a lot of effort to spoil their ballot”.

Sinn Féin, the main opposition party in the Irish parliament, gave its support to Connolly after deciding not to run its own candidate.

The party’s president Mary Lou McDonald described the result as a “stunning victory” and said Connolly needed the support of her party in the presidential election campaign.

Speaking at Dublin Castle on Saturday, Ms McDonald said: “It is a victory for the combined opposition over the jaded worn-out politics of Fianna Fail and Fine Gael.

“Sinn Féin as the largest political party, of course it was a significant element of the campaign.

“And Catherine has asserted quite correctly that she is an independent candidate, a woman with a very independent mind.”

Connolly sought out to establish herself as a united Ireland candidate and said she would like to see a border poll on the island of Ireland during her presidency, which runs for seven years.

In Northern Ireland, First Minister Michelle O’Neill said the win marked “an era of hope”.

“This election has shown what can be achieved when parties committed to change and progress work together in common purpose,” she said.

“That is the clear pathway to a better, united future.”

A parole hearing to decide whether to re-release the mother of Baby P, who was jailed over his death following months of abuse, has heard “extremely moving” victim statements from the child’s loved ones.

Tracey Connelly was jailed at the Old Bailey in 2009 for causing or allowing the death of her 17-month-old son Peter – known as Baby P – at their home in Tottenham, north London, on 3 August 2007.

The public hearing is being held to decide whether she can be re-released or if she can be moved to open conditions.

Sally Allbeury from the parole board panel told the hearing on Wednesday that it had heard statements by Peter’s loved ones in private about their concerns about parole being granted.

“Those statements told the panel about the ongoing impact on the authors’ of Peter’s death and their concerns about Ms Connelly’s potential release,” Ms Allbeury said.

“Each one has also requested in the event of Ms Connelly’s release that certain conditions be put in place to protect them.

“We found these statements extremely moving.

“There can be no doubt that Peter’s death has caused lifelong harm to those who loved him.”

Now in her 40s, Connolly was recalled to prison last year after breaching her licence conditions, having initially left prison in 2022 following a successful parole bid.

The parole board ruled she was suitable for release in March that year – after hearing she was considered to be at “low risk of committing a further offence” and that probation officers and prison officials supported the plan.

This was despite the panel highlighting concerns over Connelly’s ability to manipulate and deceive, and hearing evidence of how she had become embroiled in prison romances and traded secret love letters with an inmate.

Then-justice secretary Dominic Raab appealed against the decision, but a judge rejected his bid to keep her behind bars.

She had previously been released on licence in 2013 but was recalled to prison in 2015 for breaching her parole conditions.

Three previous parole bids, in 2015, 2017 and 2019, were rejected.

Peter was found dead in his cot in 2007 following months of violent abuse by Connolly, her boyfriend Steven Barker, and his brother, Jason Owen.

Connelly had admitted the offence of causing or allowing the death of her son and was handed a sentence of imprisonment for public protection with a minimum term of five years.

Barker and Owen were convicted of the same crime.

A series of reviews identified missed opportunities for officials to save Peter’s life had they reacted properly to warning signs.

Parole hearings are usually held in private, but a judge approved applications for Connelly’s review to be heard in public, concluding “there can be no doubt that there is a substantial public interest” in the case.

Parole hearings are usually held in private, but a judge approved applications for Connelly’s review to be heard in public, concluding “there can be no doubt that there is a substantial public interest” in the case.

The parole board received two applications for the review to be held in public, which described Connelly’s “landmark case” as “one of the most high-profile and devastating child protection failures in UK history”.