Sinn Féin asked ‘if I had any skeletons in the closet’, says potential candidate
Sinn Féin has asked potential election candidates if they have any links to criminality during an interview process.
A source who was interviewed by the party for the upcoming local elections described the interview as a “strange” experience”, and told the that they were asked throughout the process whether they previously had any links to crime and if there was any reason why they should not be considered as a potential public representative for the party.
It comes as the party has faced criticism over its relationship with criminal Jonathan Dowdall. Mr Dowdall is currently serving a four-year sentence for assisting a criminal gang in the murder of Kinahan cartel member David Byrne at the Regency Hotel.
Sinn Féin and its party leader Mary Lou McDonald faced sustained questioning regarding Mr Dowdall during and after the trial of Gerard ‘The Monk’ Hutch, who was found not guilty of the murder of David Byrne. Ms McDonald has said that if the party had known that the former Sinn Féin councillor was involved in any criminality, Mr Dowdall would not have been near her or the party.
Ms McDonald and her colleagues faced scrutiny over the party’s ability to carry out background checks on election hopefuls.
However, a source who was interviewed to potentially stand in the local elections next year for the party has said they were asked if they had any links to criminality. Sinn Féin did not respond to queries when contacted.
“I was more or less asked if I had any skeletons in the closet, and I found it a very strange experience,” said the source. The interview lasted around 30 minutes, they said.
The source said they were approached by the party and asked if they would consider running; however, they did not proceed any further with the process.
“It was odd to be approached and then asked if there was any reason why I should not be considered for the party,” the source said.
“I was also asked if I had strong views on a particular issue or topic whether I’d stick to my view if that was different to party policy, and it was indicated to me that I’d have to follow whatever the party’s line was.”
It comes as Fine Gael candidates are being asked to inform the party during similar interview processes whether they have any past criminal convictions or pending court cases which may drag the party into disrepute.
It is understood political parties, including Sinn Féin, continue to struggle to identify candidates for next year’s local elections in a number of counties across the country.
There is concern within Sinn Féin that it may not be able to capitalise on its record-high poll ratings. The previously reported how a lack of suitable candidates, added to a poor party infrastructure in certain parts of the country, is hampering efforts to make it the largest party in the country.
