Sinn Féin declines to comment after Facebook controversy involving party spokesperson 

Claire Kerrane deleted the Facebook comment suggesting deportation could be among penalties considered when an immigrant has committed a crime

Sinn Féin Roscommon-Galway TD Claire Kerrane. Picture: Sam Boal/Collins

Sinn Féin has refused to comment after Claire Kerrane, the party's spokesperson on integration, deleted a Facebook comment where she suggested that deportation should be among the penalties considered when an immigrant has committed a crime.

On the first day of the general election campaign, a spokesperson for the party said they had no comment at present regarding the situation.

They did not indicate whether there would be an investigation into the matter or whether Ms Kerrane would remain as the party's spokesperson for integration.

The Roscommon-Galway TD posted a reply to a comment on her official TD Facebook page saying that Ireland needed to get tougher on crime and that if you come to Ireland for any reason and commit a crime, the authorities should look at deportation rather than free legal aid and prison, which she said some people find "quite comfortable".

Her comments came in response to a commenter who said that Ballaghaderreen, where Ms Kerrane is from, is no longer safe.

She responded saying that growing up there was never anything that led to "widespread fear".

An alleged assault in the Ballaghaderreen area last Friday led to a wave of misinformation being spread online causing An Garda Síochána to issue a notice stating that "this investigation does not involve anyone seeking international protection".

As there was "a significant degree of misinformation" circulating online, gardaí asked the public to independently verify the content published on social media or shared through messaging apps.

Ms Kerrane has since deleted the post under which the comments appeared.

She has said that what she wrote was her personal view and not something being pushed at a party level.

Speaking to The Journal, Ms Kerrane said: "I think most people will say, if you come to Ireland and you commit a crime, then you should be sent home. That is my own belief, but it is a personal view I hold."

The general election candidate said she should have been clearer in her remarks so as to not conflate people coming to Ireland and crime.

Ms Kerrane continued saying that she had learned her lesson to "be more careful when online and replying to people who have an agenda I do not agree with and want no involvement in".

She clarified that she was not saying to deport everybody that commits a crime but thinks it should "be on the table".

“What I am saying is, if you come to Ireland and you commit a crime, deportation should be part of that full fleet of jail, community service, whatever else," Ms Kerrane said.

"I’m not saying deport people for whatever crime they commit."