Social Democrats deny suspending Limerick City branch after lack of meetings flagged

Councillor Elisa O'Donovan said the branch AGM, 'now four months overdue, was postponed abruptly on November 18 by the general secretary citing an internal matter under review'

Limerick councillor Elisa O'Donovan wrote that 'the two elected representatives in Limerick council have had no contact from any of the branch executive since October'. File Picture: Press 22

The Social Democrats have denied suspending its Limerick City branch, despite legal letters and local members claiming the contrary.

In an email sent to members in early January, party activist Karen Sugrue claimed she had been suspended since November "for 'bringing the party into disrepute' by asking questions and complaining about sexism in the party, and suggesting that lack of diversity was a 'problem'".

In a follow-up email, one of the party's two councillors in Limerick, Elisa O'Donovan, wrote that Limerick City had "had no branch meetings in 2025", adding that "the two elected representatives in Limerick council have had no contact from any of the branch executive since October".

She added that the Limerick City AGM was due to be held in September and "was postponed until November 20, with the Catherine Connolly campaign cited as the reason for delay". However, she said the branch AGM, "now four months overdue, was postponed abruptly on November 18 by the general secretary citing 'an internal matter under review'".

Ms O'Donovan said in her email that she had been contacted by media about rumours that she had left the party, but she stated that she had no intention of doing so.

'Weaponised' complaints process

Later in January, Ms Sugrue emailed members an update saying that the party's executive had "weaponised its complaints process against a woman who complained about sexism". 

She claimed that there had "still [been] no word of explanation, and our two elected reps are still being isolated, ignored, and refused support".

However, a spokesperson for the party said the branch has not been suspended.

"The Limerick City branch has not been suspended, the party does not control any branch bank accounts centrally, and the party does not comment on internal party processes," they said.

In response, Ms Sugrue told the Irish Examiner that "does not make sense".

"They stopped the branch AGM in November, have stopped the branch putting forward motions for conference, stopped us putting forward nominations for an award, and stopped meetings being held," she said.

"We’ve asked repeatedly for the AGM to held and even sent in legal letters asking for it to held — or at least a date given."

The legal letters sent to the party's general secretary in January and February say that Ms Sugrue will agree to mediation if her suspension is lifted and the branch re-instated, though two follow-up emails say that no response has been received.

"All branch activities have been forcibly stopped, and the party are refusing to communicate with the two elected reps in Limerick about why or when they will lift the branch suspension," Ms Sugrue added.

"Aside from that, the thing that’s most important to me is that this is not one party — this is all political parties. And it’s even larger than that.

"This is what happens when women complain across the public sector. It is also endemic in higher education, health, justice, and the unions.

"It has to be safe for women to make complaints," she said.

• Paul Hosford is the Acting Political Editor with the Irish Examiner.