Gangland ‘trial of the century’ puts Sinn Féin leader – and party’s alleged criminal links – in spotlight

Mary Lou McDonald, who is not accused of any wrongdoing, says she ‘hadn’t even an inkling’ that Jonathan Dowdall was involved in any form of criminality. Photograph: Damien Storan/PA

It has been called Ireland’s gangland trial of the century but weeks of testimony in courtroom 11 of the Criminal Courts of Justice in Dublin have morphed into something else: a political test for Sinn Féin and its hopes of leading the next government.

Gerry “the Monk” Hutch, 59, a prominent crime boss, is on trial for a 2016 murder that fuelled a feud between rival gangs that dotted Dublin with corpses.