Ex-Sinn Féin TD to be removed as committee lead
Brian Stanley said he would remain a "republican TD" outside the party
- Published
Former Sinn Féin TD (MP) Brian Stanley will be removed from his high-profile role as chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee on Monday.
The Laois TD resigned from the party on Saturday and said his decision followed on from a complaint that saw him brought before an "internal party inquiry".
On Sunday, the Sinn Féin leader, Mary Lou McDonald, said an issue relating to Stanley has been passed on to An Garda Síochána (Irish police).
McDonald said an internal process was carried out after a complaint against Stanley was made at the end of July.
'Seriously flawed'
In a statement, Stanley described the inquiry process as "seriously flawed".
He said the way Sinn Féin has "dealt with this and other matters across the wider party in recent months, I can no longer have confidence in it".
He also said he would continue working as an "independent republican TD".
It is expected that Sinn Féin will move to replace Stanley in the committee role on Monday.
'Robust procedures'
Mary Lou McDonald says an issue relating to Stanley was passed on to police
In a statement McDonald said during the early stages of an internal investigation "further information was brought forward which resulted in a counter allegation being made".
The internal process has now been suspended and information passed on to An Garda Síochána (Irish police).
"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," she added.
First elected to the Dáil (lower house of parliament) in 2011, Stanley has been involved with Sinn Féin for 40 years.
Earlier this week, Kildare-South TD Patricia Ryan resigned from Sinn Féin, also citing unhappiness with the party.
It follows controversy for Sinn Féin in recent weeks, including criticism for how the party dealt with the case of two press officers who resigned after giving references for a former colleague who was being investigated for child sex offences.