Cllr Caroline Dwane-Stanley has resigned from Sinn Féin in the latest chapter in the long-running saga with the party following on from husband Brian, the long-serving TD, leaving in controversial circumstances in October.
Brian was subsequently re-elected as a TD, but as an ‘Independent Republican’ in November’s General Election – and Caroline, who had remained in the party but had supported Brian on the campaign trail, has now followed suit.
She will also serve as an ‘Independent Republican’ councillor on Laois County Council, where she has been a member for more than 10 years.
Although her leaving the party was only a matter of time, it means that Sinn Féin now have no representation in Laois. Their other councillor, Aidan Mullins, left the party last summer.
Sinn Féin’s General Election candidate in Laois, Maria McCormack, is not an elected representative at any level – though she could be a Seanad candidate early in 2025.
“I have resigned from Sinn Féin with immediate effect,” said Caroline Dwane-Stanley in a statement issued this evening where she cited her 27-year involvement with the party.
“I met and worked with some great republicans on that journey and will always cherish those memories.
“I have given this careful consideration and reflection over the recent past and decided to resign my membership of Sinn Féin.
“Given how the party leadership dealt with the controversy that arose in July and related matters since then including outright attacks on both me personally and my family by some local party members, I have come to the conclusion that Laois Sinn Féin is not a safe place to be.
I had hoped that the party at leadership level would have made the effort to engage with me directly and give some support and assistance to me to try and deal with these matters. However, no contact has been made by the leadership with me over the past 5 months.
“While the party has always prided itself on the values of equality and in particular supports for women in politics, in my case this has proven to be a fallacy.
“With this in mind I have decided that the time is right for me to draw a line on 2024 and resign, look to the future and embrace what I hope will be a better political future in the time ahead.
“I will continue in my role as an independent republican councillor providing vigorous and effective representation for the Portlaoise/Abbeyleix Municipal District.”
