Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald has insisted at this stage of her political career she can spot a misogynist or sexist pig from several hundred yards.
The Dublin Central TD spoke openly during a wide-ranging interview about the treatment of women, the killing of Detective Garda Jerry McCabe and her battle with anxiety.
Ms McDonald said: “At this stage of my career I can spot a misogynist or sexist pig from several hundred yards.
“And what you observe is, women will be attacked for two central things; first for how they look and interestingly for how they sound.
“We’re described as shrill, we’re described as overbearing, you know hysterical
“If a woman is strong or forceful that’s regarded as a negative, whereas in a male leader it’s considered an essential thing,” she told host Colette Fitzpatrick of The Big Interview on Virgin Media One.
“But do you know what we have to do, and I do not excuse for a moment anybody who is abusive to anyone or who attacks a woman in a misogynistic way at all.
“And I know it’s hurtful and it can impact very negatively on people but we cannot allow ourselves to be bullied off the public space.”
The 52-year-old condemned the men found guilty of the killing of Detective Garda Jerry McCabe, following recent calls from his widow Ann McCabe to do so.
Ms McDonald said there was absolutely no justification for what happened and she offered Mrs McCabe her sincerest sympathies and condolences.
She added: “I condemn the killing, I condemn the actions of those who took his life.
“And I just want to be clear about this because Ann has described the loss of the love of her life, the loss of her husband.
“And I know how painful that is and there is nothing I can say that can take away [the pain].”
On June 7, 1996, Detective McCabe and his partner Det Gda Ben O’Sullivan, were protecting a mail van carrying £80,000 cash, when the van was intercepted by an IRA unit on Main Street, Adare, Co Limerick.
The gang, who wore balaclavas and were armed with military style guns, including a Kalashnikov automatic rifle, firstly rammed the two detective’s unmarked blue Ford Mondeo patrol car, and then, without warning, pumped 14 rounds into the vehicle, killing Det McCabe almost instantly.
Ms McDonald, who was pushed repeatedly on whether she would specifically condemn the killers after Ann McCabe called on Sinn Fein to so, added: “Yes, I mean I think the least Ann McCabe or any victim of the conflict deserves is for political leaders like me to stand in solidarity with them.
“I condemn absolutely the taking of that man’s life, his murder and the actions.
“Yes, I mean I don’t want to dance on the head of a pin with you here...Yes I condemn absolutely.”
The Sinn Fein leader also revealed how the job impacts on her mental health and how she overcomes anxiety.
She said: “I have at times dealt with anxiety - and I think I always will.
“It’s never been so acute that it’s been crippling or it’s stopped me from being at work or from functioning but it’s something I’m very conscious of.
“And actually I took up transcendental meditation recently, just as another tool in my toolkit for resilience and for keeping myself grounded and calm.”
