Former Sinn Féin TD To Contest General Election As An Independent

Friday, 11 October 2024 13:00

She says she felt "undermined" by her former party.

Patricia Ryan says she will contest the next General Election in Kildare South as an Independent.

The TD resigned from Sinn Fein earlier this week, and this morning has cited being 'undermined' as the reason for her decision.

She believes she isn't the 'right fit' for the party anymore.

She says one of the issues was around a Facebook post she made about an encampment on the Curragh:

Kildare South TD Patricia Ryan says she quit Sinn Féin as she felt she was being 'undermined'.

Sinn Féin was due to hold a contested selection convention for Kildare South next week - but she says that had nothing with her decision to resign from the party.

She also claimed members' questions for leader Mary Lou McDonald were being 'vetted':

Sinn Féin says there were 'no formal complaints' made to the party HQ regarding the issues raised by Patricia Ryan.

In a statement, the party says there were attempts to resolve 'issues in the constituency' through mediation and discussion - which it says were not successful.

Sinn Féin adds it does not believe there was a vetting of questions by members to leader Mary Lou McDonald - as claimed by the Kildare South TD.