Sinn Féin has suspended all party activity in the Dublin South West Constituency while it investigates the nomination of Paddy Holohan for Mayor of South Dublin.

Party leadership has said it was not made aware of Councillor Holohan’s nomination until news of it broke on social media.

The former MMA fighter was suspended from the party in January after he made comments about then-Taoiseach Leo Varadkar’s heritage and sexuality.

He also suggested there were ‘loads’ of underage girls were having sex with men and then blackmailing them for money.

The suspension lasted for five months and in recent weeks, his party colleagues put him forward for the position of Mayor of South Dublin.

Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast at the time, the party's finance spokesperson Pearse Doherty said the nomination was "regrettable."

"We were taken aback when the news broke because that's where we heard of it first, which was on social media as opposed to any information being given to the party at a senior level," he said.

In a letter circulated to local members in recent days, the party’s leadership said it had 'deep concern' over the matter and was suspending all party activity in the area while it carries out a full review.

It means members in the Dublin South West constituency must stop all meetings and suspend all political activity until further notice.

Officials are due to meet in Dublin on Saturday to set out the terms of reference for the review.

With reporting from Stephen Bourke