Posted by Updated / Tuesday, 15 Oct 2024 13:46
Crime Correspondent
The letter sent by Sinn Féin to gardaí in connection with the resignation of TD Brian Stanley contains copies of text messages shared between the two parties.
The material also states that the alleged incident which led to the initial complaint refers to an incident on 11 October last year, and that the counter allegation relates to an alleged incident two days later on 13 October 2023.
Gardaí are still trying to confirm they have received the letter, which Sinn Féin said was delivered to Kevin Street Garda Station in Dublin on Sunday afternoon.
A Sinn Féin spokesperson confirmed the letter was handed in at the public office by a barrister but had no comment as to why the referral was made this way.
Garda sources have described this as “highly unusual” and say there are more direct channels open to political parties to communicate with gardaí, particularly in cases of public importance or national interest.
Political parties can communicate through the Garda’s Corporate Affairs Office which is also directly connected to the Commissioner’s office.
The cover letter sent by Sinn Féin to gardaí states that “enclosed” are “details of a complaint” made against TD Brian Stanley.
The letter also refers to “enclosed copies” of text messages “shared” between the two parties.
Sinn Féin said it has referred the initial complaint and a counter-allegation by Mr Stanley to the gardaí.
The alleged incidents at the centre of these complaints took place in October of last year, but Sinn Féin says the first indication of the initial complaint was on 26 July last, and that complaint was received on 2 August 2024.
The cover letter also states that “there may be issues that present possibilities for further investigation by An Garda Síochána”.
Gardaí will assess the letter and the material enclosed to determine if they need to commence an investigation.
Gardaí said they cannot comment on a specific case but in a statement said: “In general and without commenting on any specific matter, third party referrals to An Garda Síochána are initially examined to determine whether they meet the threshold for a potential criminal offence.
“They are not automatically subject to criminal investigation.”
McDonald has ‘opportunity to answer basic questions’ – Taoiseach
Meanwhile, the Taoiseach said Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald has an opportunity to answer basic questions about the timeline and process in relation to complaints made about Brian Stanley.
Speaking before Cabinet, Simon Harris said he hopes Ms McDonald will put “all of the information out on the table” in relation to extraordinarily serious issues around child protection.
He said recent events are “so serious and so grave” that they do not require “political potshots”.
“Some of the issues that we’ve heard over the last week or so are actually so serious and so grave, what they don’t require is political potshots.
“What we should see today is the leader of Sinn Féin take the opportunity to answer basic questions around timeline, around process and around extraordinarily serious issues to do with the protection of children,” the Taoiseach said.
“We shouldn’t need to have a drip feed of information.
“I’ve consistently said I believe the leader of Sinn Féin, my political difference aside, to be a decent person, and today is an opportunity to put all the information out on the table for once and for all.
“There’s an opportunity today to provide the information on what are extraordinarily serious and grave issues, and I hope Deputy McDonald takes that opportunity and does the right thing,” Mr Harris added.
Minister for Children Roderic O’Gorman said Sinn Féin needs to explain why the party referred a complaint about Brian Stanley, and a counter allegation, to gardaí now and not when it was made aware of them.
Also speaking before the Cabinet meeting, he said many questions remain unanswered.
Last night, Sinn Féin’s Director of Elections Matt Carthy said that before Saturday he did not know that Brian Stanley would not be standing as a general election candidate for the party.
Appearing on RTÉ’s Upfront with Katie Hannon last night, it was put to the Cavan-Monaghan TD that Mr Stanley said the timing of a complaint against him “had the effect of preventing” him from contesting as a Sinn Féin candidate for Laois.
(Above: Matt Carthy on Upfront with Katie Hannon)
Mr Carthy said his party had “very robust structures and procedures” when complaints are made against party members.
Deputy Stanley and Sinn Féin are locked in a war of words over an internal party inquiry that led to his resignation from the party and its decision on Sunday to refer a complaint to gardaí.
Sinn Féin has said that Mr Stanley was advised to go to the gardaí when he raised matters of concern during a preliminary party inquiry examining the complaint made against him.
However, a party spokesperson said Mr Stanley chose not to do this, adding that he was accompanied by his barrister and solicitor and was fully advised of his rights and entitlements.
The party has confirmed the date it received the complaint about Mr Stanley as 26 July.
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