Brian Stanley not in attendance at PAC following resignation from Sinn Féin 

Mr Stanley, who had served as the chair of the Public Accounts Committee, resigned from Sinn Féin last Saturday

Former Sinn Féin TD Brian Stanley. File Picture: Niall Carson/PA Wire

Former Sinn Féin TD Brian Stanley did not chair Tuesday's session of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), with the meeting instead helmed by Social Democrats TD Catherine Murphy.

Mr Stanley, who had served as the chair of the PAC, resigned from Sinn Féin last Saturday stating that he had been subject to a "kangaroo court" by the party following a complaint made against him.

The veteran Laois-Offaly TD said he would run as an independent in the next general election.

The position of PAC chair is supposed to be held by Sinn Féin. The chairs of Oireachtas committees are normally appointed through a system which is designed to proportionately reflect each party’s representation in the Dáil.

On Wednesday evening, Sinn Féin said it would be nominating Galway West TD Mairéad Farrell to be the new chair of the PAC.

However, it is unclear as to whether Sinn Féin will succeed in replacing Mr Stanley on the highly prestigious committee, as a number of politicians from other parties have indicated that they will not facilitate the change until Ms McDonald fully explains the ongoing controversies which have embroiled her party.

The Social Democrats previously said that deputy chair Ms Murphy could lead meetings during the time of uncertainty for the committee. The committee is on Thursday hearing financial statements from the Charities Regulator.

The row between Mr Stanley and the party deepened yesterday as he levelled the accusation that Ms McDonald had “abused Dáil privilege” when she addressed the house on Tuesday.

The Laois-Offaly TD accused the Sinn Féin leader of “a desperate attempt to shift the focus from her own party’s practices” on how it handled a complaint made against him.

At the weekend, Mr Stanley resigned from the party and said he would run as an independent after a Sinn Féin internal inquiry into a complaint against him.

The party referred that complaint and a “serious” counter-allegation to gardaí on Sunday.

Ms McDonald said the complainant against Mr Stanley was left “traumatised and distressed” by his actions.

However, Mr Stanley said that there was an attempt to damage his reputation and “shift the spotlight off” Sinn Féin.

“What was also revealing from her (Mary Lou McDonald’s) statement in the Dáil, is the level of double standards that now operate and pertain in Sinn Féin,” he said.