Varadkar would have laughed at ‘inner Shinner’ comment, McDonald says

Mary Lou McDonald has defended a remark in which she said former Taoiseach Leo Varadkar had discovered his “inner Shinner”.

Mr Varadkar, the former leader of Fine Gael, recently called for politicians in the Republic to back the establishment of a forum to set out plans for Irish unity.

In response, the Sinn Féin leader described the comments as welcome but belated, adding: “I’m glad that as he’s exited the position of taoiseach, that he’s found his inner Shinner and his appetite for reunification.”

SDLP politicians have described the comments as petty, with Stormont Opposition leader Matthew O’Toole posting on social media: “Sinn Féin does not own the aspiration to Irish unity and this kind of stuff is frankly pathetic and offensive.”

On Sunday, Ms McDonald described her comment as “simply a quip”.

Speaking on BBC’s Sunday Politics Northern Ireland, she added: “I imagine Leo would have enjoyed that, actually.

“Anybody listening to that would…