Sinn Féin have topped a new opinion poll as the most popular party in Ireland despite the Mairia Cahill controversy.

According to the Sunday Independent/Millward Brown poll, the party has passed Fine Gael in terms of popularity. Their support is at 26%.

The Millward Brown survey for tomorrow's Sunday Independent questioned a thousand people over the past 10 days.

The poll also shows Independents also making gains, up 2 points to 23 per cent. Support for both coalition parties is down, with Fine Gael dropping 3 points to 22 per cent and Labour down 2 from 9 to 7 percent.

Fianna Fáil has also seen a drop in support, down one to 20 per cent.

However, despite the increases in support for the party, Gerry Adams dissaproval rating has decreased by 8%. Enda Kenny is the country's most unpopular leader.

John Drennan is Political Editor with the Sunday Independent.

Mairia Cahill revealed in a Spotlight documentary on BBC that was allegedly raped by an IRA member and was forced to face her alleged attacker in a "kangaroo court" set up by the organisation.

She also alleged she had met Gerry Adams about the allegations. However, he denies ever speaking to her about the abuse.