Gareth Sheridan accuses Fianna Fáil of blocking his Áras bid

Michelle O’Neill and Mary Lou McDonald at the Sinn Fein presidential candidate press conference. Photo: Gerry Mooney

Michelle O’Neill and Mary Lou McDonald at the Sinn Fein presidential candidate press conference. Photo: Gerry Mooney

Tabitha Monahan and Kevin Doyle

Today at 06:30

Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael are breathing a sigh of relief after Sinn Féin announced yesterday that it was backing Catherine Connolly, rather than running its own candidate.

Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald had hyped up yesterday’s announcement as a “game changer” for the race.