Purported Deepfake Mimicking RTÉ Broadcast Falsely Announced Irish Presidential Candidate Catherine Connolly's Withdrawal

A purported deepfake video circulated online that is alleged to have falsely depicted Irish presidential candidate Catherine Connolly announcing her withdrawal from the race. The clip reportedly mimicked an RTÉ news broadcast and spread across social media before being reported to the Electoral Commission. Connolly reportedly condemned the video as a malicious attempt to mislead voters and undermine democratic trust.