Man arrested after protesters confront Sinn F茅in leader

Image source, PA

Image caption, Ms McDonald had been leaving an event in her Dublin constituency

A man has been arrested after Sinn F茅in leader Mary Lou McDonald was surrounded as she left an event in her Dublin constituency.

Social media videos showed Ms McDonald being confronted on Monday evening as she left a community centre in East Wall.

A group could be heard shouting "traitors" and asking "why have you not condemned the terrorists?"

Garda铆 (Irish police) said one man was arrested for public order offences.

He was later released pending a caution, a Garda spokesman said.

In a statement, Sinn F茅in said Ms McDonald had been attending a community meeting in the S茅an O'Casey Community Centre.

The party said that meeting included 鈥渉elping local people who were making preparations for the lighting ceremony of the community Christmas tree this weekend鈥.

The Sinn F茅in statement added: "As she was leaving the community centre, a small, aggressive group was outside. East Wall is a great community and this group in no way represents the people of this area."

Ms McDonald, the leader of the opposition in Ireland, has been a Sinn F茅in TD for Dublin Central since 2011.

Earlier on Monday, Ms McDonald had attended a solidarity rally in Dublin following the city centre riots that erupted last week in the aftermath of a knife attack on children.