Sinn Féin will have a candidate in the General Election in Laois, according to Mary Lou McDonald, who was speaking in the wake of the decision of long-serving TD Brian Stanley to resign from the party.
Speaking with Will Faulkner on Midlands 103 this morning, the Sinn Féin leader said that they “will of course contest the General Election”.
“The membership in Laois will go to a selection convention and will choose a member to go forward. I have absolutely no doubt we will fight a very vigorous and energetic campaign to hold a seat that has been held by Sinn Fein since 2011.”
Brian Stanley announced his resignation from the party in a statement late on Saturday night when he described an internal inquiry that he was subject to as a ‘Kangaroo Court’ after a complaint was made about him.
He was first elected to the Dáil in 2011 and was subsequently re-elected in 2016 and 2020, when he topped the poll. He also ran in the General Elections in 1997, 2002 and 2007.
As it stands, Sinn Féin’s only representative in Laois is now Caroline Dwane-Stanley, Brian’s wife, who is a councillor based in Portlaoise. Cllr Aidan Mullins from Portarlington resigned from the party in August.
Should a General Election candidate emerge, it would likely come from one of their candidates in the Locals – Aaron Kelly from Graiguecullen, Helen Campion from Rathdowney, Lorna Holohan-Garry from Mountmellick, Jason Phelan from Abbeyleix or Maria McCormack from Portlaoise.
“In recent months a certain clique within the party have gone to extreme lengths to damage my reputation and character. No efforts have been spared by them in this regard,” he said.
No specifics have been made available as to the nature of complaint against Brian Stanley though Mary Lou McDonald has described it as “a troubling complaint” after being asked was it minor, serious or gross misconduct.
The issue was reported to an Garda Síochána by Sinn Féin on Sunday after Brian Stanley had announced his resignation.
“It was a troubling complaint,” she said. “Matters were complicated by the fact that as the panel investigated and enquired into matters, a counter allegation was also put on the table which was equally troubling and concerning.
“In these circumstances, the party is duty bound to the best of our abilities to get to the facts and to make a balanced assessment of things.
“Obviously the party process has ground to a halt because Deputy Stanley has resigned from the party. The initial findings of the report were written up and circulated to Deputy Stanley and the complainant.
“They were actually to come back today with comments for accuracy and all the rest of it which has now obviously not happened. I was briefed on the issues on Saturday night. When a process is underway, a disciplinary process, it has to be cordoned off from the rest of the party. We don’t get involved. I wasn’t aware of the nature of the complaint.
“The disciplinary process is at arms length from the party and falls under the party chair but it is independently chaired and overseen by a practising barrister and the investigation or disciplinary panel are drawn from members of the party.
“In this case there were two members – one from the North and South – but very experienced and decent people. Their job is to work through the complaint with the person making the complaint and the person responding. At every point, material is circulated for accuracy, for comments from both parties, There is a very keen eye for fairness, for standing for people’s rights, very conscious of that.
“We are conscious that when a complaint is received by the party it has to be investigated. Nobody is exempt from that.”
After initially appearing on RTE’s Morning Ireland, Mary Lou McDonald then spoke on Midlands 103, where she said at the outset that she “cannot divulge” the nature of the complaint against Stanley. “I have been strongly advised not to,” she added, “notwithstanding Brian Stanley’s disgraceful commentary.”
“The process of inqury into a complaint made against him was fair, independent … Brian Stanley’s rights were recognised and respected at every point and he exercised as weas his right to have a solicitor and a barrister with him when he met with the panel.”
She went on to add that she found it “really reprehensible that having made the decision to leave, Deputy Stanley would look to deflect in that way”.
“It is very inaccurate and wrong and deeply unfair and unrespectful to colleagues in the party and those who oversaw the process which is balanced and fair.”
She later said that “Brian Stanley can himself clarify matters and he might avail of that opportunity. That is a matter for himself.
“I can only speak for the party. To be fair and accurate to everybody, the decision to refer matters to the Gardai, it is not us saying – I am not in a position to judge whether or not the complaint or counter allegation actually reach the threshold for criminal investigation.
“I don’t know that but the Gardai will. I am much happier that the Gardai make that call.”
She said it was not vindictive for the issue to be reported to the Gardai after Brian Stanley’s resignation statement. “Far from it. This is about being thorough, taking serious complaint and counter allegation.
“If we had not taken decision, you’d be asking me what to do next? I am anxious that these matters are concluded and I think that is in everybody’s interests.
“Deputy Stanley chose to walk away. That was his decision. I never want to be in scenario where losing someone from the party, particularly someone with such long experience.
“(It is) deeply regrettable that he chose to sling mud as he walked through the door. I don’t appreciate that, neither does the party as a whole.”
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