McDonald’s stance on Adams arrest puts her on shaky ground

SHE’S the thinking woman’s political crumpet — the girl crush that more and more are willing to admit to having. But why, oh why, does Mary Lou McDonald have to be so bloody brilliant, and yet a member of Sinn Fein?

That’s the question increasingly being asked about the girl who grew up in one of Rathgar’s leafiest roads in Dublin 6, but has spent far too much of her time recently identifying herself with the Sinn Féin of The Troubles and the murder of a widow who was watched by her 10 children as the IRA dragged her away before they eventually shot her in the head, and then “disappeared” her body.

Over a year ago McDonald and I were part of a panel discussion at the inaugural Women in Media event in Ballybunion, Co Kerry. The topic was women in politics. It is a topic close to my heart and one which I like to think I know a lot about. After my speech I sat down slightly smug in the knowledge that I had done well.