Sinn Fein President Mary Lou McDonald declines to condemn the IRA's attempted murder of Arlene Foster's father as the row over loyalist banners intensifies

Nov 22, 2019, 11:34 AM

Sinn Fein President Mary Lou McDonald has refused to specifically condemn the attempted murder of Arlene Foster's father by the IRA. 

Republicans tried to murder the DUP leader's late father John at the family farm in 1979. 

The off duty policeman was shot in the head, but survived Arlene Foster has accused Sinn Fein of being selective about what it will condemn - after the party called on the DUP to condemn posters smearing their north Belfast candidate John Finucane earlier this week

So is this more toxic politics, raking over the past? 

Or what is to be expected in a country that has failed to deal with the past? 

Stephen spoke to Labour member Phil Kelly and the News Letter deputy editor Ben Lowry.