Mary Lou McDonald

Northern Ireland Deputy First Minister Emma Little Pengelly speaks during the Northern Ireland Bureau breakfast at Ned's Club in Washington DC. Sinn Fein stayed away from the events in the White House to celebrate Ireland’s patron saint in protest at Mr Trump’s stance on the conflict in Gaza

Sinn Fein relationship with Irish America not damaged by boycott, says McDonald

Former economy minister Conor Murphy has hit out at ‘double standard’ he says he faces when paying tribute to veteran republicans

Ruth Dudley Edwards: We should all keep hounding the unrepentant

Former Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams, right, walks behind the coffin of Brendan 'Bik' McFarlane as it leaves his family home on Cliftonville Road, Belfast, on Tuesday

Former IRA man McFarlane was ‘no hero’, Little-Pengelly says

Stormont’s Justice Minister Naomi Long speaking to the media at Parliament Buildings at Stormont, Belfast, on Tuesday. Ms Long said she will not be going to the White House for St Patrick events, adding, 'I respect the office of president. I simply don’t respect the current office holder.'

Long ‘does not respect’ Trump and will not be travelling to US

Former Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams (centre) before the coffin of Brendan 'Bik' McFarlane leaves his family home on Cliftonville Road, Belfast. The former senior IRA man , known for taking part in the biggest escape in UK prison history, died after a short illness on Friday.

Funeral being held for former senior IRA man Brendan McFarlane

Brendan 'Bik' McFarlane pictured in 2008

Victims' group voice dismay at tributes to senior IRA figure

First Minister, Sinn Fein vice president Michelle O'Neill at the Clayton Hotel, Ballsbridge, Dublin. Sinn Fein’s White House boycott is a "manoeuvre" to set First Minister Michelle O’Neill up for an Irish presidential bid, the leader of the DUP has suggested

DUP says Sinn Fein’s US boycott is ‘manoeuvre’ for O’Neill Irish presidency bid

Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald and Michelle O'Neill have said they will not travel to Washington

Sinn Fein will not attend an event at the White House around St Patrick’s Day

Sinn Fein's Conor Murphy is leaving his job as Stormont economy minister and Newry and Armagh Assembly member to switch to the upper house of the Irish parliament

Sinn Fein announce new minister for infrastructure in front bench reshuffle

Irish President Michael D Higgins signs warrant of Appointment and presents the Seal of Office to newly elected Taoiseach Micheal Martin in Aras an Uachtarain in Dublin. Photo: Maxwell's/PA Wire

Irish PM finally confirmed after yesterday's chaos in Dail

Handout photo issued by Maxwells of Government chief whip, Hildegarde Naughton TD, speaking in the Dail ahead of the vote on the nomination of Micheal Martin as Taoiseach. The Irish parliament has failed to nominate a new taoiseach, following a row on speaking time

Election of new Irish PM delayed amid speaking time row

Former U.S. President Donald Trump

Sinn Fein leader warns against ‘fatalist instincts’ associated with Donald Trump

Much criticism for Sinn Fein's failure to make a breakthrough in the recent election in the south has fallen upon the shoulders of party leader Mary Lou McDonald for her strategy

Paul McElhinney: SF may be in a strong position at next election

Pacemaker Press 09-08-2023: Stormont stalemate: Irish PM Leo Varadkar meets parties over impasse.
Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) Leo Varadkar is meeting Stormont's political parties in Belfast 18 months on from the collapse of the executive.
It comes after he accused Westminster of a lack of co-operation. There has been no devolved government since February 2022 when the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) withdrew. Mr Varadkar called for the UK and Irish governments to "work hand-in-glove and apply both pressure and support - in a co-ordinated way".
Pictured after being the first party delegation to meet Mr Varadkar on Wednesday, Sinn Fein vice-president
Michelle O'Neill and Conor Murphy.
Picture By: Arthur Allison/Pacemaker Press.

Sinn Fein minister Conor Murphy to run for place in Irish Senate

In the Republic’s largest party, Fianna Fail, 22% of 81 candidates described themselves as fluent

Less than one-eighth of Irish election hopefuls could speak Gaelic well

North Antrim DUP MLA Paul Frew

Sinn Fein's comments on Irish unity from a 'standard playbook': Paul Frew
North Antrim DUP MLA Paul Frew says Sinn Fein “knows there is no realistic prospect of a border poll” after Mary Lou McDonald’s latest comments on Irish unity.
Johnny McNabb

SF leaders Mary Lou McDonald and Michelle O’Neill saw their party’s vote share drop 5.5 per cent in last week's Irish general election. During the campaign, Ms McDonald said constitutional change was 'the conversation of a generation'

Ruth Dudley Edwards: Curious incident of Irish unity and uninterested voters

Independent candidate Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch outside RDS Simmonscourt, Dublin, as the Irish general election count continued. Ppic: Brian Lawless/PA Wire

Gerry ‘The Monk’ Hutch just fails in bid to win a seat in Dail

Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald took over from Gerry Adams in 2018 - but has yet to secure republicans a place in government in Dublin. Photo: Brian Lawless/PA Wire

Irish general election: Voters have 'turned against' Sinn Fein

Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald and deputy Michelle O'Neill arrive at the count at RDS Simmonscourt, Dublin, where Ms McDonald won re-election to the Dail. But her party's share of the overall vote is notably down on its 2020 result. Photo: Brian Lawless/PA Wire

Sinn Fein suffers biggest election vote fall of three big Irish parties, down 5%

Counting takes place at Nemo Rangers GAA Club in Cork, after voters went to the polls to elect 174 TDs across 43 constituencies during Ireland's General Election. Photo: Jacob King/PA Wire

Irish election: counting continues after exit poll suggests even three-way split

Fine Gael leader Simon Harris accompanied by his wife Caoimhe and children Cillian and Saoirse this morning as he casts his vote at Delgany National School, County Wicklow, as voters go to the polls for the 2024 General Election in Ireland

Irish political leaders urge people to vote in ‘close-fought’ General Election

Sinn Fein's Mary Lou McDonald in Dublin

Sinn Fein open to legal challenge over Irish unity says party leader

Taoiseach Simon Harris at Fine Gael's General Election manifesto launch at Horse & Jockey Hotel, Co. Tipperary ahead of the General Election on November 29

Simon Harris calls on Sinn Fein to publish manifesto ahead of first debate

Sinn Fein President Mary Lou McDonald

Sinn Fein-led Irish government would take immediate steps towards united Ireland

Sinn Fein's President Mary Lou McDonald, speaks during a press conference at the Clayton Hotel in Dublin.

Mary Lou McDonald says she deeply regrets statement on inappropriate texts

Michelle O'Neill will face questions from MLAs at Stormont - including on Michael McMonagle, a man she apparently employed in her constituency office. Photo: Liam McBurney/PA Wire

Sinn Fein scandals: What the First Minister may be grilled on today
The First Minister has repeatedly promised openness and transparency about the series of scandals engulfing her party – and if she appears at this today’s Executive Office committee there are many unanswered questions to address.
David Thompson

Sinn Fein's President Mary Lou McDonald addressed the Dail on Tuesday afternoon to correct the record over the age of the teenager sent inappropriate texts by former Sinn Fein senator Niall O Donnghaile

McDonald offers ‘full’ apology to teenager sent inappropriate texts by senator

Michael McMonagle (left, highlighted) at Stormont for the British Heart Foundation in February 2023 standing near Michelle O'Neill. He had been suspended from the party at the time due to a police investigation into child sex investigations. The First Minister says she didn't see him, and that he wasn't on her "radar" after he was suspended by the party.

How open has the First Minister been about recent scandals?

SF's leadership either side of the border were at odds over the age of a teenager who received inappropriate text messages from Niall O Donnghaile. Photo: Liam McBurney/PA Wire

Sinn Fein leaders at odds over age of teen who received inappropriate messages

First Minister Michelle O'Neill answering questions on the scandal engulfing her party.

First Minister claims child who received inappropriate messages was 'in fact 17'

RTÉ has defended a joke by Late Late Show presenter Paddy Kielty about Sinn Fein. Photo: PA

RTÉ defends Paddy Kielty joke about Sinn Fein

The empty space on the wall of Belfast City Hall, where the Lord Mayoral portrait of Niall O Donnghaile hung until it was removed on Thursday, after the Party group leaders on Belfast City Council agreed the move unanimously. Mr O Donnghaile, a former Irish Senator, has been revealed to be the Sinn Fein member who quit the party after sending allegedly inappropriate text messages to a teenager

O Donnghaile picture removed from wall inside Belfast City Hall

Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald ended her speech doing what she does best - with a vicious assault on her political opponents

Ruth Dudley Edwards: You can’t suppress stench of SF scandal with cologne

Sinn Fein President Mary Lou McDonald

Sinn Fein; Mary Lou McDonald accuses opponents of ‘breathtaking hypocrisy'

Former Sinn Fein press officer and Senator Niall O Donnghaile in May 20, 2023. Photo: Liam McBurney/PA Wire

Former Sinn Féin senator reveals he sent inappropriate messages

Mary Lou McDonald said the original complaint, which was made through a statement on August 2, was not of a criminal nature

‘The buck stops with me’: McDonald defends handling of Stanley complaint

Brian Stanley, chair of the Public Accounts Committee, questioned the party’s process, claiming it “lacked objectivity” and “was “seriously flawed”. Photo: Niall Carson/PA Wire

SF TD quits over 'kangaroo court' as party sends complaint against him to gardai

First Minister Michelle O'Neill was accused of attempting to 'shield' her junior minister Aisling Reilly (left) from questioning on the Michael McMonagle case during a Stormont committee.

Sinn Fein's unanswered questions - and the information it hasn't volunteered

Máiría Cahill says that "despite a fortnight of revelations, we still don't know who in SF knew that Michael McMonagle was being investigated for child sex offences".

Fresh questions over when police contacted Sinn Fein

Tanaiste Micheal Martin speaking to the media outside Government Buildings, Dublin, where he said that Sinn Fein has "real issues" in dealing with matters of sex crimes, after Mary Lou McDonald said there will be a "complete overhaul" over governance in the party

Sinn Fein has ‘real issues’ in managing issues around sex crimes – Tanaiste

Taoiseach Simon Harris has attacked Sinn Fein 'hypocrisy' over opposition to a mobile phone pouch scheme for schools

Taoiseach accuses Sinn Fein of ‘hypocrisy’ over opposition to phone pouch scheme

Taoiseach Simon Harris speaking to the media in central Dublin on Wednesday. Mr Harris said he hoped Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald would answer “legitimate questions” after it emerged that two Sinn Fein press officers provided a reference for a former colleague who later admitted sex offences

Revelations over McMonagle references are deeply concerning – Harris

Michelle O'Neill said she is “aghast and horrified” that two Sinn Fein press officers provided a reference for a former colleague who later admitted sex offences

SF press officers’ references for McMonagle 'wrong and should not have happened'

Former taoiseach Leo Varadkar

Sinn Fein leader says Leo Varadkar would have laughed at 'inner Shinner' remark

Sinn Fein's President Mary Lou McDonald speaking during the Sinn Fein Ard Fheis at the Technological University of the Shannon, Athlone.

'Be in no doubt - unity referendums are coming'

Former taoiseach Leo Varadkar talking to schoolchildren from Londonderry during an event at the Playhouse theatre hosted by the SDLP's New Ireland Commission

Varadkar has found his inner Shinner, says Mary Lou McDonald

Fleur Anderson, Labour MP for Putney, and Parliamentary Under-Secretary at the Northern Ireland Office

DUP says 'government is right to be clear Irish unity poll is not a priority'

The Sinn Fein leader has dodged making the same commitment, and claimed there has been a "general belligerence" towards Irish interests. That's despite hugely controversial compromises to keep an open border between Northern Ireland and the Republic. Ms McDonald and deputy leader Michelle O'Neill, are pictured here in 2019 smashing down a fake border post - a real one never materialised. Picture: Brian Lawless/PA Archive/PA

Robinson's DUP won't collapse Stormont - but Sinn Fein are less clear

The Villa Vie Odyssey was supposed to have embarked on a more than three-year journey in May but is stuck in Belfast. Perhaps for some of the guests being grounded in one location is part of the adventure

Editorial: Benn needs support in his refusal to set out criteria for border poll

Lord Caine was a minister at the NIO under the previous Tory government. He is an unashamed and unapologetic unionist

Letter: Praise for Lord Caine on UK unity stance

Despite occasional bursts of her trademark aggression, Mary Lou McDonald has often been unable to avoid looking baffled and defeated

Ruth Dudley Edwards: Sinn Fein are in a muddle over immigration in the south

Letters to editor

Letter: Will Sinn Fein have a ‘Road to Damascus conversion’?

Mary Lou McDonald

Mary Lou McDonald: Shooting threat is escalation of targeted online abuse

Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer speaking at Queen's University in Belfast on Brexit's NI Protocol: January 13, 2023.

Simon Harris and Keir Starmer expected to discuss Northern Ireland

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