‘Smoke and mirrors minister’ the star of Sinn Féin’s show

GERRY ADAMS wasn’t the star of the Sinn Féin Árd Fheis. Nor was it Martin McGuinness. And as for the hunger stirkers - Bobby who?

No, the real ‘star’ of the show appeared to be Michael McDowell.

Branded as “the Ayatollah of Ballsbridge” and likened to none other than Margaret Thatcher, the Justice Minister’s status as the bête noire of the republican movement was solidified by constant references to his politics, policies and personality.