Dowdall was a 'black swan' in Sinn Féin, says Mary Lou McDonald

Party leader says she did not know Gerry ‘the Monk’ Hutch was present at a fundraising event she attended in 2014

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said of Jonathan Dowdall she 'missed what he was capable of going on to do'.  Picture: Moya Nolan

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald has described Jonathan Dowdall’s involvement in the party as a “black swan incident", admitting she "missed what he was capable of going on to do".

In a wide-ranging interview with the Irish Examiner, the Dublin Central TD, who shared a constituency with Dowdall, said he was a “successful businessman” with a “beautiful family” when he was chosen as a party candidate.