Sinn Fein 'morally unclean' an funded by IRA says McDowell

JUSTICE MINISTER Michael McDowell launched a controversial attack on Sinn Féin last night, accusing the IRA of engaging in crime to fund the party's political rise.

In comments likely to have significant implications for the formation of a new Stormont administration, the minister claimed Sinn Féin's political purse was directly funded by IRA criminal activities.

He said Sinn Féin was morally unclean.