The Laois-Offaly TD – one of the party’s best-known figures in Leinster House – is chairman of the influential Public Accounts Committee.

BRIAN STANLEY, TD for laois-Offaly, has resigned from Sinn Féin, saying he no longer has confidence in the party. Mr Stanley, who is Chair of the Public Accounts Committee, announced his resignation on Saturday, claiming he was aggrieved at how the party dealt with a complaint against him. Sinn Féin has yet to comment on the matter, which comes just days after Kildare South TD Patricia Ryan quit the party. 'Kangaroo court' claim In a statement first reported by Laois Today, Mr Stanley said he was resigning with immediate effect after 40 years with Sinn Féin and will continue as an independent republican TD. "On foot of a 'complaint', I was recently brought before an internal party 'inquiry'," said Mr Stanley. "Given what has transpired and the work of my legal team, what is very clear, is this process lacked objectivity, was seriously flawed and was devoid of impartiality. "This 'inquiry' has been shown to have lacked any shred of credibility, not least due to a significant abuse of process. "In many ways it…

The party’s chief whip Pádraig MacLochlainn confirmed the news.

The Sinn Féin TD for Kildare South, Patricia Ryan, has resigned from the party.