Coveney: Mary Lou McDonald has 'serious questions to answer' over Dowdall vetting 

'Clear answers' also needed on whether Sinn Féin will support renewal of the Special Criminal Court

Mary Lou McDonald with Jonathan Dowdall.

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald "has serious questions to answer" about the party's vetting of former councillor Jonathan Dowdall, Enterprise Minister Simon Coveney has said.

At Wednesday’s Fine Gael parliamentary party meeting, Mr Coveney said Ms McDonald should answer whether Sinn Féin officials discussed a 2011 shooting incident at Dowdall’s uncle’s home with him before the local elections in 2014.