Does the IRA still exist? - Sinn Fein struggle to sound credible

THERE is a significant swathe of people who will never vote for Sinn Féin no matter what the party does, says, proposes or promises.

Equally, but more bewilderingly, there is another swathe who will vote for Sinn Féin no matter how the party’s credibility is challenged, its policies sundered or behaviour and alliances exposed. Both positions seem absolute and show how powerful a force emotion is in our political life.

The scandal around the Maíria Cahill saga when she exposed an IRA rapist and the subsequent ordeal she faced when she was offered the tender mercies of an IRA kangaroo court, and subsequent revelations that a number of abusers had been “exiled” to the Republic, did not dampen support for Sinn Féin in any way. That Teflon spirit also applies to the assertion repeated ad nauseam by party leader — since 1983 — Gerry Adams that he was not a member of the IRA.