Sinn Féin: We did our best to back Sandra McLellan

Sinn Féin has defended its handling of a controversy which has prompted a sitting TD not to run for the party in the next general election.

The party’s education spokesman, Jonathan O’Brien, said the party did everything in its power to resolve the issues at the centre of Cork East TD Sandra McLellan’s claims earlier this year.

He was speaking yesterday in the wake of Ms McLellan’s confirmation that she will not stand for the party in the next election.

In a post on her Facebook page, she said: “Over the period I have served as a TD my efforts were consistently and persistently undermined by a small number in the constituency that called themselves members of Sinn Féin. I am not prepared to risk this for another term.”

Mr O’Brien said the party has robust procedures to deal with such issues, that the party had given her full support, and that the matter is now closed.

Jonathan O’Brien

Ms McLellan was at the centre of controversy which rocked the Sinn Féin organisation in East Cork before the summer when she effectively claimed that two councillors had been undermining her.

Following an internal six-month investigation, which involved interviewing some 60 party activists, Sinn Féin’s Ard Chomairle sanctioned the expulsion of Cobh-based Cllr Kieran McCarthy, and the suspension for 12-months of Mallow-based Melissa Mullane for “uncomradely” behaviour.

Ms Mullane has since been readmitted to the party — a move which itself sparked more controversy with the resignation of Mitchelstown-based Cllr June Murphy.

Mr McCarthy is now planning to run as an independent in Cork East, a decision which could split the Sinn Féin vote there and cost the party its seat.

Ms McLellan’s decision over the weekend meant Midleton-based Cllr Pat Buckley went before party’s Cork East selection convention yesterday uncontested, and was selected as the party’s sole candidate in the four-seat constituency.

Mr Buckley said he felt the party would be fully united behind him and said although Ms McLellan was “very strong”, he said he felt he would be “strong enough” to take on board any constructive criticism which may emerge over the coming months.

Ms McLellan, who became only the second woman to win a seat in Cork East, wished Mr Buckley well and said: “I hope he will not have the same negative experience that I had at the hands of these individuals.”