McDonald looks set to be confirmed as Sinn Fein President
MARY Lou McDonald is widely expected to take over from Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams unopposed after the deadline for other candidates to put their names forward expired.
Sinn Fein last night refused to say if there will be any opposition to Ms McDonald when the party selects its new president at a special ard fheis next month.
It is understood the party’s ard comhairle is to meet today to finalise preparations for the event.
Dublin Central TD Ms McDonald unfailingly defended outgoing leader Gerry Adams during a string of controversies in recent years.
Speaking ahead of the party’s last ard fheis, she also refused to distance herself from Provisional IRA atrocities.
Ms McDonald’s judgment was called into question by political opponents following her response to controversy caused by former Sinn Fein MP Barry McElduff ’s offensive social media post about the Kingsmill massacre.
Ms McDonald had criticised Mr McElduff but described the three-month suspension handed down by the party as “appropriate and proportionate”. Mr McElduff later resigned.
She is set to take over from Mr Adams, after his more than three-decade stint leading Sinn Fein, on February 10.
Ms McDonald yesterday shared several social media posts by supporters including some bearing the hashtag “#ShesThe1”. Maurice Quinlivan, Donnchadh O Laoghaire, Louise O’Reilly and former IRA member Martin Ferris were among TDs publicly expressing support in recent days.
Ms O’Reilly said Ms McDonald was “a strong republican woman to take us forward” and Mr Ferris used a video posted on Twitter to encourage all party members to support her. Fiachra McGuinness, son of the late Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness, also endorsed Ms McDonald.
In a video posted to Twitter he said: “I am proud and honoured to endorse Mary Lou McDonald.
“My father worked closely with Mary Lou for many years in the Sinn Fein leadership, and was a huge admirer of her ideas, dedication, and commitment,” he said.
He said Mrs McDonald was the “ideal candidate” to “lead Sinn Fein into the future”.
Other high-profile party members who have given their backing to Mrs McDonald are MEP Martina Anderson, Wicklow TD John Brady, and former Westminster candidate John Finucane.