“Houston, we have a problem.”

To say Sinn Féin is struggling with presentation would be a gross understatement.

They appear to have a serious problem when it comes to handling matters and messaging around sex allegations. SF doesn’t seem to have learned anything from past form.

At the heart of the issue is the rigid structural nature of Sinn Féin. It’s simply not set up to be transparent. It prioritises internal discipline over public interest disclosure and is run by a clique on a need to know basis.

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In 2019, when John O’Dowd unexpectedly challenged Michelle O’Neill as Vice President, the Sinn Féin hierarchy was unhappily caught off guard.

There were no hustings or interviews. No figures were initially included in the result. They argued this was an internal party matter. It was anything........

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