Laois TD Brian Stanley accuses Mary Lou McDonald of making 'desperate attempt' to shift focus

Laois Offaly independent TD Brian Stanley has hit back at Mary Lou McDonald over her statement to the Dail.

The TD issued a statement about the controversy that has led to his resignation and gaarda involvement.

“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.

"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 7 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 the 31 July 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," he said.

Dep Stanley intends to run as an independent in the general election.