McDowell fans flames in the North

The extraordinary outpouring by Minister for Justice Michael McDowell, in which he accused Sinn Féin of being “morally unclean”, is perplexing in both its timing and content.

The Minister used the occasion of an interview on Today FM to attack Sinn Féin, accusing it of funding electoral campaigns with the proceeds of criminal activities by IRA members.

If, as Minister for Justice, he has unequivocal proof of this, then he has an obligation to establish a criminal prosecution. If he has not, then his comments are bewildering and could be interpreted as mischievous.