Documents within the Sinn Féin party reveal that a fortnight ago, an internal investigation had been set to conclude that Brian Stanley, the TD for Laois-Offaly, was guilty of serious misconduct in relation to a sexual harassment allegation prior to his resignation from the party. Both the young female complainant and Mr Stanley were informed that, following the investigation, which included evidence from both parties, the party was planning to confirm the complainant’s allegations and discredit some of Mr Stanley’s testimony, as suggested by a preliminary report on the investigation.
They were granted a week to make comments on the initial conclusions. However, Mr Stanley handed in his resignation from the party only five days later, claiming he was a victim of a “kangaroo court” and asserting that there was a certain group within the party that had gone to significant lengths to tarnish his character and reputation.
Mr Stanley’s legal counsel reiterated his strong denial of any misconduct. The counsel stated that the report was merely a draft and not a final version, and Mr Stanley is challenging the preliminary conclusions. His legal representative also claimed that the accusation against TD Stanley was completely politically driven and had been made ahead of the general election as well as the candidates’ nominations. It was asserted that there had been a clear abuse of the Sinn Féin disciplinary procedures in this case.
The party’s probe began in August, prompted by the woman’s complaint concerning an event at a venue in Dublin that happened on October 11th, 2023, after she specifically went to meet Mr Stanley. The woman, who had previously been an employee at Sinn Féin and was looking for guidance on securing work within the EU, had accepted an invitation from Mr Stanley to dine together at Leinster House and for a few drinks at a local pub afterwards.
The Sinn Féin investigation into Mr Stanley continuously challenged the authenticity of his testimony, eventually announcing in the preliminary report that, taking into account all the available evidence, the complainant’s account was most likely true.
Following the incident, the woman texted Mr Stanley, expressing her distress and trauma. These messages were utilised as evidence in the enquiry and were not disputed, according to the preliminary report.
She had sent him a demand for €60,000 as compensation for the incidents of that night, as indicated by the text messages. The woman, however, now acknowledges that her monetary demand resulted from a rash, poorly thought-out decision made at a time when she felt shocked and powerless.
In his testimony to the inquiry, Mr Stanley forcefully contested the woman’s narrative of the events. He suggested that she, in cooperation with others in the party, was conspiring against him to oust him. He reinforced this in a statement through his solicitor, accusing her of intentionally withholding the complaint for nearly ten months with an aim to stymie his potential political candidacy.
Mr Stanley told the investigation team that he perceived the complaint as part of a planned effort to overthrow him. Upon his resignation, the party outrightly dismissed his allegations and claimed that the internal investigation had concluded due to his departure. They purported to have shared the allegations against Mr Stanley with the Garda, alongside a counter-allegation he made about the woman demanding money.
However, the woman, who wished to remain anonymous, stated this week that the Garda are not in possession of the complete party dossier on her case, nor the report from the party’s draft inquiry that ruled against Mr Stanley. She now heavily criticises the party’s handling of the investigation, accusing it of a gross breach of trust.
Mr Stanley’s solicitor released a statement expressing the immense distress this situation has caused Mr Stanley and his family, who support him throughout this ordeal. He lamented that his dedicated service to Sinn Féin and the constituents of Laois and Offaly has been tarnished at this juncture of his political career.