'No comparison' between Provisional IRA and gangland criminals, claims Mary Lou McDonald

Sinn Féin leader also again says the party would have had nothing to do with Jonathan Dowdall if they had known about his links to gangland crime

Mary Lou McDonald said former councillor Jonathan Dowdall 'wouldn't have been within a roar of me or within Sinn Féin' if she had 'even an inkling' that he was involved in any form of criminality. Picture: Damien Storan/PA

There is no comparison between the Provisional IRA and gangland criminals, the leader of Sinn Féin has said.

Mary Lou McDonald said that a discussion on having members of the party who have convictions for their role in The Troubles was "one discussion", but gangland crime was another.