Brian Stanley accuses Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald of 'abusing Dáil privilege'

Mr Stanley announced his resignation from Sinn Féin on Saturday, suggesting he was subject to an inquiry akin to a "kangaroo court"

Brian Stanley has accused Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald of "abusing Dáil privilege" following her comments about his resignation.

Mr Stanley announced his resignation from Sinn Féin on Saturday, suggesting he was subject to an inquiry akin to a "kangaroo court".

An internal Sinn Féin inquiry into a complaint and a counter-complaint has now been referred to the Gardaí.

READ MORE: Mary Lou McDonald accused of 'elaborate cover-up' over Niall Ó Donnghaile resignation

READ MORE: Mary Lou McDonald says Brian Stanley controversy involves 'very, very, serious' allegations

In the Dáil on Tuesday, speaking under privilege, Ms McDonald said the allegations against Mr Stanley were "very, very serious".

She also said the woman who made the complaint was left "traumatised" by the TD's "personal behaviour".

In a statement, Mr Stanley rejected Ms McDonald’s remarks and suggested she was trying to shift the focus away from the party and onto him.

"Mary Lou Mc Donald abused Dáil privilege in a desperate attempt to shift the focus from her own party’s practices regarding a 'complaint' against me, the contents of which I refute," he said.

"This comes 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.

"And all this, while a Garda investigation is ongoing on foot of serious matters I brought forward.

"What was also revealing from her statement in the Dáil is the level of double standards that now operate and pertain in Sinn Féin.

"In the interest of clarity, I again state the following: That the complaint against me, and which was not deemed to be of a criminal nature, was lodged on the 26 July and not seven days later as Sinn Féin claim.

"I also state that it was deliberately kept from me that there was even a complaint. That I wasn’t informed officially that there was a complaint until July 31 and this followed a letter from my solicitor to Sinn Féin to demand official confirmation as to the existence of one.

"I again welcome the fact that this matter is now with An Garda Síochána."

Neither Mr Stanley nor Ms McDonald has revealed the nature of the complaint nor the counter-complaint.

Ms McDonald told the Dáil that the circumstances surrounding Mr Stanley's resignation are "very, very serious" and that was first contacted on July 26 by the complainant. The party received a formal complaint against Deputy Stanley on August 2.

She confirmed the complaint and the counter-complaint relate to an incident that took place in October 2023.

"The complaint relates to an incident that took place in October 2023 and relates to Deputy Stanley's personal behaviour, leaving the complainant, in her words, traumatised and distressed," Ms McDonald said.

"In the course of the inquiry into the complaint against Deputy Stanley, he raised a counter allegation against the complainant and a very serious one.

"The allegation caused deep concern and Deputy Stanley was advised that he should go to the Gardaí. He chose not to."

Sinn Féin brought material, including text messages between Mr Stanley and the complainant, to Kevin Street Garda Station at 4pm on Sunday evening.

On Morning Ireland, Sinn Féin's Pearse Doherty rejected Mr Stanley's assertion, stating that the party has not made the contents of the complaint and the counter-complaint common knowledge and suggested the Laois-Offaly TD should put the details on the record.

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