Paul Hosford: Instinct to protect party leader creates problems for Sinn Féin

Sinn Féin’s problem is not that things happen. Its problem seems to be that its reaction to those things is often too slow

Brian Stanley, right, was pointed in the tone of his statement after he resigned from Sinn Féin. Mary Lou McDonald has said the complaint at the centre of a disciplinary hearing into Mr Stanley has been passed to the gardaí.

Sinn Féin will provide “the most effective opposition in the history of this State”.

That was the pledge from Mary Lou McDonald in 2020 following an election in which the party claimed a victory of sorts, garnering the highest first preference share and the second highest number of seats.