SINN Féin president Gerry Adams was isolated in the Republic's first head-to-head election debate last night as leaders of the other parties accused him of seeking to endanger jurors.
He also came under fire with accusations that he had directed IRA violence in the past during Thursday's 90-minute live TV3 event.
Also taking part were Fine Gael Taoiseach Enda Kenny; his Labour deputy Joan Burton; and the opposition Fianna Fáil party leader, Micheál Martin.
Mr Adams said the recent murders of David Byrne and Eddie Hutch Senior had allowed other parties to take cheap shots at Sinn Féin.
The Louth TD denied that his stance on the Special Criminal Court is related to the IRA, insisting it was not the proper way to address crime and organised crime should instead be tackled through proper resourcing.
When pressed on the possible intimidation of jurors, he said people have a right to be tried by a jury of their peers and he would not change his position on the matter to be populist.
However, when Mr Adams suggested Labour shared Sinn Féin's wish to close the court, Ms Burton branded it "a direct lie."
He went on to accuse her of making "a mess of justice", to which she replied : "You made a mess of terror in this country, Gerry."
Mr Martin said there are plenty of people in Northern Ireland who would have chosen a non-jury court over "kangaroo courts" which he claimed Sinn Féin "knew and oversaw" for many years.
Meanwhile, Mr Kenny said Fine Gael's position on the case of fatal foetal abnormalities is that the Eighth amendment exists and consensus is needed for it to be changed.
He said it needs to be depoliticised.
Mr Martin said Fianna Fáil has freedom of conscience on the issue and the `Repeal the Eighth' is too simplistic and to make a change for fatal foetal abnormalities needed a referendum.
Mr Adams said Sinn Féin support a repeal.
He stressed that Fianna Fáil will not go into government with Sinn Féin under any circumstances, adding "we're not going to do what Labour did and sell out the people".
Ms Burton insisted Labour had brought a balance to the government and wished to continue to do so.
She accused Sinn Féin of "fuzzy economics" which would kill jobs.
Mr Kenny also claimed Sinn Féin would impose a 65 per cent marginal tax rate and wreck the economy.
Mr Martin said Fine Gael would bring in US-style tax rates and run down public services.
The Sinn Féin president said the party favoured a universal health system saying: "If you arrive at a hospital, you should be entitled according to your need, not your means.".
