Sinn Féin TD Brian Stanley resigns from party over 'kangaroo court'

In just the latest crisis to hit Mary Lou McDonald’s party, the Laois-Offaly TD said he was quitting Sinn Féin after being subjected to what he dubbed a “kangaroo court” on foot of a complaint that had been made against him.

In a statement on Saturday evening, first reported by the Laois Today website, the high-profile TD said: “I am announcing my resignation from Sinn Féin with immediate effect.

“After 40 years of service to Sinn Féin, I will now continue working as an Independent Republican TD of behalf of constituents, who have always treated me in a fair and respectful manner.

“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.

“On foot of a ‘complaint’ I was recently brought before an internal party ‘inquiry’.

“Given what has transpired and the work of my legal team, what is very clear, is this process lacked objectivity, was seriously flawed and was devoid of impartiality.

“This ‘inquiry’ has been shown to have lacked any shred of credibility, not least due to a significant abuse of process. In many ways it resembled a type of kangaroo court. Legal examination of this matter will continue.

“Considering what I have experienced and how Sinn Féin has dealt with this and other matters across the wider party in recent months, I can no longer have confidence in it.”

Mr Stanley’s departure comes after a week in which the Republican party has been rocked by resignations and crises.

Ms McDonald and Northern Ireland first minister Michelle O’Neill apologised after two party press officers, who have since resigned, gave work references for Michael McMonagle, another press officer based in Belfast, who was suspended and subsequently convicted of child sex offences.

The Irish Independent revealed separately this week that a party member resigned over inappropriate text messages sent to a teenager. The individual was suspended from the party while an internal investigation took place. The matter was also referred to the PSNI, although it did not investigate as the teenager did not want to make a complaint.

Separately, Kildare TD Patricia Ryan left the party, ahead of the constituency selection convention, saying she felt pushed to resign from Sinn Féin as she was not being listened to.

She added that posts on social media were “curtailed” and claimed members’ questions for Mary Lou McDonald were “vetted”.

Mr Stanley is the fifth SF TD to resign from the party since 2018. A string of councillors have also left the party in recent years.

Mr Stanley’s wife, Caroline Dwane-Stanley, is a Sinn Féin councillor in the Portlaoise Municipal District.