Thomas Gould's arrest as welcome as a root canal for Sinn Féin leader

Mary Lou McDonald had a good start in the Dáil after a bruising end to 2024 and this is the last thing her party needs, writes Paul Hosford

Sinn Féin politician Thomas Gould TD. Picture Dan Linehan

Sinn Féin has had a good start to this Dáil.

That is not just this writer's opinion. It is one held across the opposition and among some senior members of Government, who have privately acknowledged that the party — in particular leader Mary Lou McDonald — has "got its mojo back" after a bruising end to 2024 and an election that signalled a standstill rather than a breakthrough in electoral terms.