REACTION to the row over Conor Murphy's comments about Paul Quinn is being viewed as Sinn Féin's southern leadership "finally asserting its authority".
It comes after a former party strategist was quick to criticise the Stormont finance minister's remarks after they became an unexpected talking point from the RTÉ leaders' debate.
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald came under pressure during the programme on Tuesday over Mr Murphy's comments in 2007 in which he linked the murdered Co Armagh man to criminality.
Speaking on RTÉ programme The Spin Room following the debate, former Sinn Féin communications chief Justin Moran defended how Ms McDonald handled the issue.
Read More:
- Sinn Féin's Conor Murphy apologises for remarks on Paul Quinn murder
- Paul Quinn's parents should not have had to wait 13 years for apology
- Security briefings on Paul Quinn murder were repeated in the Dáil
"I think what she was setting out there very clearly was that the comments made by Conor Murphy were absolutely unacceptable, and that Conor Murphy needed to step forward and to contact the Quinn family and to apologise, and he has made clear that he will do that," he said.
"The people who carried out that heinous assault on Paul Quinn are criminals and they need to be brought to justice and anybody – Sinn Féin members, non-Sinn Féin members, republicans, non-republicans, anybody who has information – should come forward and give names, give details and ensure that the perpetrators of that crime are brought to justice."
Mr Moran, who was formerly head of Sinn Féin's Leinster House press office, said the issue was "in a context of leadership" for Ms McDonald and whether she would hold party members to account.
"She made very clear that Conor Murphy's going to be held to account, that Conor Murphy needs to step forward and I think that's what she was trying to drive forward in her response," he said.
Irish News columnist Chris Donnelly said Mr Moran's response to the row was significant.
Reacting on Twitter, he said that "few seem to appreciate the significance of what's playing out: The southern leadership is finally asserting its authority".
He added: "It represents a desire to sweep the broom in a way that has not been apparent before. Electoral success will help the medicine go down."
However, Mr Donnelly acknowledged that it could create tensions between Sinn Féin's northern and southern operations.
