“Abundance of Caution” – Mary Lou McDonald Comments on Brian Stanley’s Complaint

Chairman of the Sinn Féin Public Accounts Committee and Laois Offaly TD Brian Stanley resigned Saturday evening following the conclusion of a preliminary investigation into a complaint filed against him by a longtime party member.

Speaking on Morning Ireland on Monday morning, Sinn Féin party leader Mary Lou McDonald said the internal process of investigating the complaint had been suspended and the matter had been resolved. forwarded to An Garda Síochána.

She said the matter was referred to An Garda Síochána with “an abundance of caution”.

McDonald said she was only made aware of the matter after the party’s preliminary investigation concluded and Brian Stanley resigned. She said it was only at this stage that the matter was referred to the gardaí.

Commenting on the referral of the complaint to the gardaí, she said: “I was not happy, nor would I be happy, that the party was left with a serious complaint and a serious counter-allegation.”

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She added: “Hand if the initial complaint was of a criminal nature, this would have been made directly to the court. gardaíSinn Fein wouldn’t have been nearby.”

When asked if there were any recommendations for reporting the issue to gardaí based on the findings of the preliminary investigation which ended on October 4McDonald responded that there was no recommendation at this point since it was “a preliminary report of the facts, the undisputed facts, and then the disputed facts.”

She also added that the process was interrupted by the resignation of Brian Stanley.

The Sinn Féin leader said she would not comment on where the party member who made the complaint was based, but said she did not know them personally.

Also appearing on Midlands 103 on Monday, Mary Lou McDonald said she could not disclose what the complaint against Brian Stanley was.

When asked on Midlands 103 if the allegations against Brian Stanley were serious in nature, McDonald responded that it was a “disturbing complaint.” She said there were complications in the investigation because an “equally disturbing and concerning” counter-complaint was filed.

Commenting on Brain Stanley’s resignation, she said: “Deputy Stanley chose to step down, it was his decision. She added: “It is deeply regrettable that he chose to throw mud as he walked through the door.”

McDonald said she could not say whether the complaints filed met the requirements standard for a criminal investigation, saying it was a job for the gardaí.

The chairman of the Dail’s Public Accounts Committee, Brian Stanley, announced his resignation on Saturday (October 12).

Commenting on his resignation, Stanley said: “In recent months, a certain clique within the party has gone to extreme lengths to damage my reputation and personality. They have spared no effort in this regard.

“Following a ‘complaint’, I was recently brought before an internal party ‘investigation’. Given what happened and the work of my legal team, which is very clear, it is that this process lacked objectivity, was seriously flawed and lacked impartiality.

“This ‘investigation’ has been shown to lack any credibility, including a significant abuse of process. In many respects it resembled a kind of kangaroo court. Legal review of this case will continue .

He concluded: “Given what I have experienced and the way Sinn Féin has handled this and other issues within the wider party in recent months, I can no longer trust it. “

The Laois Offaly TD said that after 40 years of service to Sinn Féin, he will continue to work as an independent republican TD on behalf of constituents “who have always treated me fairly and respectfully”.