Sinn Fein is facing calls to clarify the extent of its knowledge of Jonathan Dowdall’s links to criminality before his election as a party councillor in 2014. The call follows an admission by senior Sinn Fein TD Eoin Ó Broin that the party had discussed a 2011 shooting incident at the home of Dowdall’s uncle with Dowdall before the 2014 elections. Dowdall was jailed in 2017 for offences involving the “waterboarding” of a man at his home. He subsequently pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of facilitating murder by booking a room in Dublin’s Regency Hotel.

Sinn Féin is facing pressure to clarify whether it was aware of links between former councillor Jonathan Dowdall and criminality prior to his 2014 election by the party, following revelations that Sinn Féin officials discussed a 2011 shooting at Dowdall’s uncle’s house with him prior to the local election. Dowdall was jailed for involvement in “waterboarding” in 2015 before being acquitted of murder in 2022. Sinn Féin officials have denied questioning Dowdall about any allegations of criminal behaviour prior to 2014, whilst senior party figures have called Dowdall a liar. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has called for greater transparency from Sinn Féin on the matter.