Ex-Sinn Féin TD hits back at party leader's speech

Brian Stanley resigned from Sinn Féin said he would contest the next election as an "independent republican"

Former Sinn Féin TD (MP) Brian Stanley has accused party leader Mary Lou McDonald of "shifting the spotlight" and abusing Dáil (Irish Parliament) privilege in comments she made about him on Tuesday.

In a statement on Tuesday, Stanley said that McDonald's remarks come "after days of inaccurate statements and insinuations from Sinn Féin" that he said had the "clear intention" of damaging his reputation.

Mary Lou McDonald told the Dáil that the the complaint made against Deputy Stanley is "very serious" and relates to his "personal behaviour", leaving the complainant 'traumatised and distressed'".

The long-standing Laois TD resigned from Sinn Féin on Saturday night amid reports of complaints against him within the party.

'Double standards'

Stanley issued a statement on Tuesday, claiming that McDonald's comments were "a desperate attempt to shift the focus from her own party's practices" in relation to the complaint against him.

He said McDonald's remarks about him come "after days of inaccurate statements and insinuations from Sinn Féin - along with selective briefings delivered with the clear intention of damaging my reputation and to shift the spotlight off the party".

Stanley claimed that McDonald's speech in the Dáil on Tuesday revealed "the level of double standards that now operate and pertain in Sinn Féin".

On Sunday McDonald, said an issue relating to Stanley has been passed on to An Garda Síochána (Irish police).

Stanley denies any misbehaviour.