The now independent councillor's decision leaves the party without representation in Laois/
Councillor Caroline Dwane Stanley is ending her 27 year membership of Sinn Fein with immediate effect.
The Laois rep believes she and her family have been targeted by members of the party in the county.
Given how the party leadership dealt with the controversy that arose in July and related matters since then including outright attacks on both me personally and my family by some local party members, I have come to the conclusion that Laois Sinn Féin is not a safe place to be.
Her decision follows a turbulent number of months for the party in Laois after her husband, Deputy Brian Stanley, left the organisation in acrimonious circumstances.
Mr Stanley was the subject of an internal investigation over allegations of sexual misconduct.
These are allegations he has strenuously denied.
After a long period of silence on his leaving the party, Cllr. Dwane Stanley went on the record at the Laois general election count centre earlier this month.
She accused local members of Sinn Fein of conspiring against her and her husband, but insisted she was staying in the party to get answers over what happened.
However, it appears there was no contact, or answers, forthcoming from Sinn Fein.
I had hoped that the party at leadership level would have made the effort to engage with me directly and give some support and assistance to me to try and deal with these matters. However, no contact has been made by the leadership with me over the past 5 months.
While the party has always prided itself on the values of equality and in particular supports for women in politics, in my case this has proven to be a fallacy.
With this in mind I have decided that the time is right for me to draw a line on 2024 and resign, look to the future and embrace what I hope will be a better political future in the time ahead.
The now former Sinn Fein rep will continue to represent her municipal district of Portlaoise/Abbeyliex as an 'independent republican'.
Read more: "Toxic, Despicable, and Disgusting" - Caroline Dwane Stanley Turns On Sinn Fein
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