‘So, I’m not in control? Would that be because I’m a mature woman?’

MARY Lou McDonald has described suggestions that she is not really in control of Sinn Féin as sexist in nature.

The Dublin Central TD succeeded Gerry Adams as leader on Saturday but the party continues to be dogged by speculation that it still takes direction from the remnants of the IRA.

Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan has hit out at the depiction of Ms McDonald’s presidency as a break from the past, stating at the weekend that she was ‘chosen by forces in the shadows’ of the party.

Appearing on RTÉ’s The Week In Politics yesterday, Ms McDonald said that she had been ‘astonished’ by some of the commentary made about her, which she said was insulting to her as a woman.

She said: ‘I’ve heard this mantra repeated over and over again; that this woman is the leader but she’s not in charge. That is an absolute nonsense.

‘I have to say it verges on almost being insulting to me, as a mature woman and as a person who has spent a great deal of time in Irish political life. And as a woman who has the democratic mandate of my party.

‘I’m the leader of Sinn Féin because the membership want me to be the leader, they have chosen me,’ she said.

She also hit out at other parties for criticising the manner of her election, noting they have all had leaders who ran uncontested.

Ms McDonald pointed to former taoiseach Seán Lemass as an example of the supposed double standards she is facing. ‘The other political party leaders should reflect on the fact that all of them have had leaders who have been uncontested,’ she said.

‘Seán Lemass was uncontested. Was he a puppet?

‘Was there someone behind him telling him what to do?

‘Or is this kind of puppet commentary something that’s reserved for women in leadership positions?’ Ms McDonald said.