'Strong' Laois Sinn Féin 'doesn't need to work' with Brian Stanley after General Election

Laois Sinn Féin doesn't intend working with Brian Stanley if he is returned to the Dáil but will not be coming out with any 'bad words' about him as it plans for for a positive future, according to its Director of Elections.

Aaron Kelly spoke to the Leinster Express / Laois Live about the performance of the Sinn Féin candidate Maria McCormack. 

"We ran a really positive campaign and Maria got a really respectable first preference vote and we are happy that Sinn Féin in Laois is as strong as it ever was. 

"Our main focus is to build constantly until the next election comes around. The foundations are all there; the cumanns are in place and we have more members joining than left in the last few weeks so we are in a strong position.

"The attitude and energy of the team is absolutely amazing," he said.

Mr Kelly, a former local election candidate for Sinn Féin, accepted that Ms McCormack faced a difficult task.

"When any new candidate comes into a General Election race it is going to be a hard ask when you are up against strong sitting TDs," he said.

As to the feeling between Laois Sinn Féin and Brian Stanley who is on the way back to the Dáil, Mr Kelly said his party would not work with him if elected.

"I don't think we need to work with him. He is an independent TD. He resigned from the party we ran his own campaign and we ran ours," he said.

As to existing bad blood between the party locally and Brian Stanley, Mr Kelly said the party is looking forward.

"We've never came out publicly with any bad words to say. Our focus is on the future and keeping things positive," he said.

Ms McCormack was fourth in first preferences around 2,000 votes behind the former Sinn Féin TD Brian Stanley