Paddy Power opened a book on the next leader of Sinn Fein at the beginning of the year, following the first set of allegations in the UTV Live Insight programme regarding Gerry Adams and what he knew about allegations of abuse against his brother Liam Adams.
Reading a post by Mick Fealty today regarding the prospects facing Gerry Adams and Peter Robinson given their current ‘difficulties’ I was struck by the mention of Mary Lou as next leader in the bookies predictions. The odds place Mary Lou McDonald at 4/5 followed by Conor Murphy MLA at 5/1.
Given the mess that is Sinn Fein in the south in recent months, with resignations of key figures, departures of staff and a lack of focus politically, I would have thought that Mary Lou’s shine would be tarnished.
I confess to not being too au fait with Sinn Fein politics except to know they are in a mess, but Mary Lou is unelected and unsuccessful as a candidate in two elections. And sure what does Paddy Power know about politics?
Mick thinks that Sinn Fein will stay with the devil it knows. I’d say wait until we see what Suzanne Breen brings us in this weekends Sunday Tribune. (The Rape Crisis Centre in Belfast issued a statement in support of Suzanne’s conduct in her investigations of SF cover up’s on abuse allegations)
By the way it was nice to see so much of Arthur Morgan TD in the Dáil today, he’s been missing a lot for the past three weeks or so, hiding from the media trying to get answers on Liam Adam’s membership of Sinn Fein in Louth.
Wouldn’t imagine she’d had much credibility up North.
The only other name being mentioned is Conor Murphy, MP for Newry and Armagh. In many ways he is even more seriously tarnished by his words and actions since the murder of constituent Paul Quinn, whom he accused of being a criminal murdered by other members of his criminal gang. see http://www.quinnsupport.org
@ Holemaster- you would be right there. But any leadership contest ( and I’m dubious that one will happen anytime soon) will more than likely be a tussle between the northern and southern parts of the movement, which have have seen different currents develop over the last few years. The northern “wing” if you’ll forgive the pun has held precedence since the split in the 80s and thankfully so imo, but the strain of doing business in Stormont is showing and has been the cause of much disaffection among even stalwart adherents there, while in the South, there are newer more radical elements with interesting and some would say more forward thinking positions, but may not be strong enough yet to whole sway.
Arthur Moran spoke to the Irish News about Liam Adams over a week ago. As far as I know that’s the only time he was ever actually contacted by the media.