Initial complaint against Brian Stanley is ‘not criminal in nature,’ says Mary Lou McDonald

Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald said the initial complaint against former party TD Brian Stanley was “not criminal in nature”.

The ongoing crisis within Sinn Fein deepened on Sunday evening with the findings of an internal complaints procedure involving veteran TD Mr Stanley returned to An Garda Siochana.

Mr Stanley, 66, left the party in a shock announcement on Saturday evening, days after being informed of the outcome of the internal disciplinary process, which he described as a “kangaroo court”.

It came just days after Kildare TD Patricia Ryan announced her resignation from Sinn Fein, and the party leader was asked about a former press secretary who was later convicted of sex offenses .

Mr Stanley’s departure came after a complaint was made against him by a party member from his Laois-Offaly constituency, sparking an internal investigation. During the process, a counter-allegation was made by Mr. Stanley, which was also found to be credible.

Speaking to Morning Ireland on RTÉ Radio One on Monday, Ms McDonald refused to comment on the details of a complaint against Mr Stanley.

However, Ms McDonald said the initial complaint, filed in a statement on August 2, was not criminal in nature.

She said: “Had the initial complaint been of a criminal nature it would have been made directly to An Garda Siochana.

Ms McDonald said Sinn Fein’s investigation into the complaint, which was under the supervision of a lawyer who is also a member of the party, concluded on October 4.

A “serious” counter-complaint surfaced during the process.

“I want to be clear here: I am unable to comment on whether the complaint or counter-allegation meets the standards of a criminal investigation. It’s not my job.

“But I am much happier that the complaint and the counter-allegation are now in the hands of the Gardai and they can do what they see fit,” Ms McDonald said.

Additionally, Ms McDonald said she did not personally know the “long-time party member” who made the complaint against Mr Stanley and was made aware of the complaint in early August.

Despite this, Ms McDonald said she was not aware of the details of the complaint, saying the entire investigation process “is independent of party”.

“I do not apologize to anyone for fair and impartial adherence to party rules and norms,” she said.

Both sides of the complaint were initially scheduled to return Monday morning to comment on a draft, but Mr. Stanley resigned in the meantime.

Ms McDonald said she was first made fully aware of the matter after her resignation on Saturday evening.

Asked about the decision to refer the complaint and counter-allegation to Gardai following Mr Stanley’s resignation from Sinn Fein, Mary Lou McDonald said: “Yes, I was involved in that decision and I stand by it.

“The referral to An Garda Siochana was made very cautiously, because I was not happy, and I will not be happy, that the party was left with a serious complaint and a serious counter-allegation…

“A process has been cut short by Deputy Stanley’s departure and I want things to be fixed.”

Ms McDonald said preliminary findings from a party investigation into the matter had not reached any final conclusions or recommendations, including whether or not the matter should be referred to gardai.

“I am largely responsible for this party and, as the person who bears responsibility, I absolutely insist that the rules and procedures are rigorously applied,” she said.

Mr Stanley will be replaced “imminently” as chair of the Dáil’s powerful Public Accounts Committee (PAC) by another Sinn Fein TD, it appears.

Additional reporting by Craig Hughes.