Election special : Little interest in Adams's arrest on doorsteps

When Matt Carthy toured Longford, constituents were more concerned with the party's harsh line on Europe than the Gerry Adams controversy, writes Michael Brennan.

Anne Murray with Sinn Féin candidate Matt Carthy and Martin McGuinness in The Mostrim Arms pub in Edwardstown, Co Longford. Photo: Michelle Ghee

Sinn Féin’s Matt Carthy would find it very difficult to shake hands with Queen Elizabeth. He is one of the new breed of sharp-suited Sinn Féin candidates without any baggage of past IRA membership. The party is hoping that he will win it a first-ever seat in the new Midlands-North West constituency.

But Carthy (36) criticised Queen Elizabeth as the head of a “sectarian organisation” during her historic state visit three years ago. ...