'Abundance of caution' - Mary Lou McDonald comments on Brian Stanley complaint

Sinn Féin Public Accounts Committee chairman and Laois Offaly TD Brian Stanley resigned on Saturday night following the conclusion of a preliminary investigation into a complaint made against him by a longstanding member of the party.

Speaking on Morning Ireland on Monday morning, Sinn Féin party leader Mary Lou McDonald said that the internal process of investigation into the complaint has now been suspended and the issue has been passed to An Garda Síochána. 

She said that the issue was handed over to An Garda Síochána in "an abundance of caution."

McDonald said that she was only briefed on the matter following the conclusion of the party's preliminary investigation and Brian Stanley's resignation. She said that only at this point was the the issue referred to gardaí. 

Commenting on the complaint being referred to gardaí, she said: "I was not happy, nor would I be happy, with the party being left with a serious complaint and a serious counter allegation."

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She added: "Had the original complaint been of a criminal nature, that would have gone straight to the gardaí, Sinn Fein wouldn't have been near it."

When asked if there were recommendations to report the issue to the gardaí based on the findings of the preliminary investigation which concluded on 4 October, McDonald responded that there were no recommendations at that stage as it "was a preliminary report of the facts, the undisputed facts and then the disputed facts."

She also added that the process was cut short by Brian Stanley's resignation.

The Sinn Féin leader said she would not comment on where the party member who made the complaint was based, but did say that they were not personally known to her. 

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

When asked on Midlands 103 if the allegations against Brian Stanley were of a serious nature, McDonald said that it was a "troubling complaint". She said that there were complications in the investigation as an "equally troubling and concerning" counter complaint was made. 

Commenting on Brain Stanley's resignation, she said: "Deputy Stanley chose to walk away, that was his decision." She added: "It is deeply regrettable that he chose to fling mud as he walked through the door."

McDonald said she wasn't in a position to say whether the complaints made met the standard for a criminal investigation, saying that was a job for the gardaí. 

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

Commenting on his resignation, Stanley said: "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.

He concluded: "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."

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 in a fair and respectful manner."