Laois Sinn Fein 'fully anticipate' Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley to back party

Laois Sinn Féin expects the wife of Brian Stanley to back the party while the party's county secretary also claims to have the General Election endorsement of a councillor who quit the party this year.

Aaron Kelly, Secretary Laois Sinn Féin Comhairle Ceantair, issued a statement in a week which saw Dep Stanley say he had been treated 'appallingly' by Mary Lou McDonald. Dep Stanley also declared his candidacy as independent Republican this week. 

However, Sinn Féin hopes to defy the odds and has set its sights on retaining his seat in Leinster House for the party. Mr Kelly, who contested the local elections, said their candidate will have support.

"With Maria McCormack seeking nomination as our Sinn Féin candidate for the upcoming Convention in Laois on Monday night, Cllr Aidan Mullins, who resigned from the party earlier this year but remains a lifelong Republican, is happy to see a strong Sinn Féin candidate running in the General Election in Laois. He has wished Maria McCormack the very best in her campaign," he said. 

Cllr Mullins told the Leinster Express / Laois Live this week that he would not canvas votes for Dep Stanley. He will not be canvasing for any candidate.

Mr Kelly also believes that the party's only elected representative in Laois is still on board. 

"I am happy that Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley appears to have remained loyal to Sinn Féin and fully anticipate that, as our Sinn Féin councillor in Laois, Caroline will be supporting and endorsing our General Election candidate alongside Cllr Aidan Mullins," he said.

Mr Kelly said the Sinn Féin focus is on the issues facing our constituents.

"We are looking forward to our Selection Convention on Monday night, with Uachtarán Shinn Féin, Mary Lou McDonald in attendance in Portlaoise where we can officially select our Laois candidate and campaign on the issues facing the good people of Laois in important areas such as housing, healthcare, education, farming, and community development. 

"If Maria McCormack is selected as our candidate at Convention, her focus in it's entirety will be on these issues. Sinn Féin have the policies, we have the team, and now we have the ideal candidate in Maria McCormack as she hopes to become the first ever female Laois TD. We look forward to fighting a strong campaign over the coming weeks and hearing all about the issues that only a Sinn Féin government can resolve. It truly is time for change," concluded the statement.

Other candidates in the new three seat constituency include: Sean Fleming FF, Willie Aird, FG, Elaine Mullally, Ind, Aisling Moran, Ind, Mary Hand, Aontu, Rosie Palmer, Greens