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Sinn Féin TD Brian Stanley 'won't be resigning' from PAC, says Ó Broin

The head of the Public Accounts Committee is facing calls to resign over a tweet about IRA attack...
98FM
98FM

13.44 1 Dec 2020


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Sinn Féin TD Brian Stanley 'wo...

Sinn Féin TD Brian Stanley 'won't be resigning' from PAC, says Ó Broin

98FM
98FM

13.44 1 Dec 2020


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The head of the Public Accounts Committee is facing calls to resign over a tweet about IRA attacks.

Sinn Féin TD Brian Stanley has apologised and his party colleagues say he won't be stepping down from the role.

Over the weekend, the Laois-Offaly TD tweeted about two separate attacks from the War of Independence and the Troubles that killed a total of 35 British soldiers.

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Deputy Stanley described them as “the two IRA operations that taught the elite of the British army and the establishment the cost of occupying Ireland. Pity for everyone they were such slow learners”.

He later deleted the tweet and apologised - but there have been calls for him to resign his position as Chair of the influential Public Accounts Committee.

Former Labour leader Brendan Howlin says it is important for Sinn Féin to show there are consequences, while Taoiseach Micheál Martin also criticised what he called the inhumanity and mocking tone of Deputy Stanley's tweet.

While Deputy Stanley will address his PAC colleagues tomorrow, Sinn Féin TD Eoin Ó Broin said he won't be standing down.

Speaking on The Pat Kenny Show, he said: "Sinn Féin's position is that Brian won't be resigning from his Chairpersonship of the Public Accounts Committee.

"But I also don't think the matter rests there because we need to make sure, particularly TDs like myself or Brian or others, don't engage in this type of crass commentary.

"We have to find a way as politicians to walk about these events without inflicting hurt and pain on others.

"Brian got it wrong and his tweet was incredibly insensitive."

Sinn Féin TD Brian Stanley 'won't be resigning' from PAC, says Ó Broin

00:00:00 / 00:00:00

The Pat Kenny Show

    

His comments echo those made by the party's Finance Spokesperson Pearse Doherty earlier today.

Speaking on Newstalk Breakfast, he said there are people in the Public Accounts Committee who don't want him to stand aside.

He said: "The first thing, and the most important thing, is that the tweet was deleted.

"The second this is that I understand he will address his colleagues in the PAC, and rightly so, when that meets tomorrow.

"I do note the fact that the majority of his colleagues in the PAC are not asking for him to stand aside.

"Deputy Stanley will address the issue at the PAC meeting on Wednesday where he will discuss this and make a comment to his colleagues."

Sinn Féin TD Brian Stanley 'won't be resigning' from PAC, says Ó Broin

00:00:00 / 00:00:00

Newstalk Breakfast

    

Additional reporting by Seán Defoe

Main image: File image of Brian Stanley. Credit: Sasko Lazarov/RollingNews.ie

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