Mary Lou McDonald did not try to leave Dáil before result of confidence motion, party insists

Sinn Féin said it really was a 'bit of a laugh'

Sinn Féin has suggested that because Ms McDonald (pictured) was in the chamber for a “long few hours” that she may not have realised the vote had not been called yet, despite video footage showing her standing close to the Ceann Comhairle Sean Ó Fearghail’s seat by the door.

Sinn Féin has dismissed suggestions Mary Lou McDonald sought to leave the Dáil chamber before her defeat in the confidence motion was confirmed.

The sight of Ms McDonald appearing to want to leave the Dáil before the vote had concluded on her own motion of confidence “is not what it appeared,” the party has insisted.