Woeful winter may be season to be jolly for SF

THOSE imagining any Sinn Féin Santa Claus would carry a Christmas box in one hand and an armalite in the other are clearly out of tune with the times.

Republican politics changed dramatically between the recessions, and the armed struggle has now given way to the charm struggle. Hence, an incredibly awkward-looking Gerry Adams snuggling up to a voter-friendly Father Christmas at the gates of Leinster House.

Mr Adams has never scored very highly in the “Ho, ho, ho” department, so a party activist volunteered to don the outfit for the photo-stunt.