Sinn Féin ‘shocked’ by his SF councilor wife’s support for Brian Stanley

Sinn Féin sources have approached party councilor Caroline Dwane Stanley about supporting her husband Brian Stanley on the campaign trail.

Local sources have said it is ‘shocking’ that councilor Dwane Stanley, who sits on Laois County Council, has not left Sinn Féin.

They accused her of being ‘contrary’ to party policy, with party leader Mary Lou McDonald saying the issue will be investigated after tomorrow’s election. However, Mr Stanley has said his wife will discuss her position on the party in “her own time”.

He announced his shock resignation from Sinn Féin last month following an internal complaints procedure against him. The Laois TD, who was first elected to the Dáil in 2011said he had been subjected to a “character assassination” and compared its trials to a kangaroo court. He later announced his intention to contest the election as an independent Republican.

The party’s internal investigation was based on a complaint filed by a female member of the party after she and Mr Stanley shared a hotel room in October 2023. There was no allegation of physical involvement and nothing of a criminal nature took place.

Ms Dwane Stanley, who was first elected to Laois County Council in 2014 and continues to serve in the Portlaoise Municipal District, has remained largely silent since the controversy broke out.

‘IT’S A DIFFICULT TIME’

In a statement to LaoisLive she said: ‘It’s a tough time but we will get through it – we have huge support from many people in the community. The number of people who have contacted us has been phenomenal. Ultimately, they are the people who put me in my job and I am very grateful for their support.

In the weeks since, Mrs Dwane Stanley – Sinn Féin’s only elected representative in Laois who is also the party’s member on the EU Committee of the Regions – contacted her husband and attended his campaign launch, locals have learned sources indicated.

She has also publicly supported her husband’s re-election efforts via social media, sharing numerous videos and photos of Mr. Stanley during the campaign. “Family is everything, we have your back Brian,” she wrote on Facebook on November 23.

“Your strong voice for Laois in the Dáil,” she wrote in a separate post sharing Stanley’s campaign poster.

The Laois councilor has not yet endorsed Maria McCormack, the Sinn Féin candidate in the constituency, or announced her intention to step back from the party.

Speaking to the Irish Daily Mail, Sinn Féin sources have acknowledged the ‘difficult situation’ in which Ms Dwane Stanley finds herself. However, party backers said it is ‘highly unusual’ that she has remained an elected representative of the party, with one source calling her decision not to resign ‘shocking’.

‘AFTER THE ELECTION’

“I don’t understand why she wouldn’t just leave the party.” No one blames her for deciding to stay with (Mr Stanley), but the fact that she’s still representing Sinn Féin while she’s in talks with him… it’s crazy stuff.”

“Maybe she is waiting for Sinn Féin to decide to deport her,” said another source. ‘It’s like she’s trying to provoke that, so she doesn’t have to withdraw, by knocking on the door with him.

“I know she’s in a bad situation, but I don’t understand it.”

A Sinn Féin TD told the Mail that there is an ‘implicit’ rule that Sinn Féin representatives support the party candidate in their constituency. “She must have violated that,” they said.

Leader Ms. McDonald agrees with this sentiment. When asked if action would be taken against Mrs Dwane Stanley, she said: “Caroline is her own woman. She is independent of Brian and we will deal with all these matters once the election is over.

“Our focus in Laois is on Maria McCormack and her campaign. And then if there is an issue with Ms. Dwane Stanley, I’m sure we’ll look into that after the election,” she said.

Ms McDonald said she “imagines it is very difficult” for Ms Dwane Stanley.

‘I remain very disappointed in Brian. He has brought all these things upon himself and I don’t think he takes any responsibility or accountability for that,” the Sinn Féin leader said.

The Mail contacted Caroline Dwane Stanley for comment but did not receive a response. Her husband said she will answer questions about her party membership “in her own time.”

Stanley also accused his former party of spreading “malicious information” about him during his campaigns and “doing everything in his power to damage my campaign.”

Mr Stanley did not specify the nature of the disinformation.