Leader of Sinn Féin Mary Lou McDonald has stated that her party has forwarded to the gardaí a dossier pertaining to an internal investigation into party TD Brian Stanley, who has since resigned, reports RTE.
The head of Sinn Fein stated in a statement this afternoon that “we will not ignore or hide away from difficult issues when they arise”.
In a statement, Laois-Offaly TD and chair of the Dáil Public Accounts Committee, Mr. Stanley, stated that he had left the party last night because “a certain clique within the party have gone to extreme lengths to damage my reputation,” reports RTE.
“On foot of a complaint I was recently brought to an internal party inquiry,” according to Mr. Stanley’s statement, which he claimed “lacked objectivity” and was “seriously flawed.”
But Ms. McDonald acknowledged in a statement this afternoon that the case’s papers had now been forwarded to the gardaí.
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In a statement, Ms McDonald said: “A complaint was made against Deputy Brian Stanley at the end of July by a long-standing member of the party and a panel was set up under our internal disciplinary processes to investigate the complaint. During the preliminary stages of the inquiry, further information was brought forward which resulted in a counter allegation being made. Deputy Stanley’s rights were protected throughout this process. He had, as was his right, a solicitor and a barrister with him at the meeting with the disciplinary panel. A preliminary report was furnished to both individuals last week and they were given seven days to respond. At the same time, outside legal advice was sought by the party,” reports RTE.
“The internal process has now been suspended and the issue has been passed to An Garda Síochána. Brian Stanley and the other party have been informed of this,” Ms McDonald said, reports RTE.
It was said by her that Sinn Féin “will not ignore or hide away from difficult issues when they arise”.
She said: “These are not outcomes that anyone likes to see but let me be clear we have robust procedures for dealing with these issues and they will be followed at all times and apply equally to all members of the party,” reports RTE.
Mr. Stanley was first elected to the Dáil in 2011. He is the head of the Public Accounts Committee and has been a member of Sinn Féin for forty years.
After resigning, Mr. Stanley declared he would continue to be a “republican TD” outside the party.
Lynn Boylan, a Sinn Féin MEP, encouraged Mr. Stanley to disclose the complaint that prompted the internal party probe to be started earlier today, accusing him of just telling half the story, reports RTE.
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