WATCH: Sinn Fein leader recognises Caroline Dwane Stanley's situation as 'complicated'

Sinn Féin party leader Mary Lou McDonald has paid a visit to Portlaoise to support Laois Sinn Féin candidate Maria McCormack in her election bid.

While on a tour of the National Learning Network Portlaoise, Ms McDonald acknowledged to the Leinster Express / Laois Live that Sinn Féin Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley is in a 'complicated' position.

Cllr Dwane Stanley is Laois' only Sinn Féin county councillor, and has yet to publicly endorse Sinn Féin candidate Maria McCormack.

Cllr Dwane Stanley is married to former Sinn Féin TD Deputy Brian Stanley, who has had a public spat with Mary Lou McDonald following his shock resignation from Sinn Féin in the wake of allegations of alleged sexual misconduct.

The former Sinn Féin TD has announced this week that he is considering legal action following what he claims has been a "campaign of character assassination". 

"We have a leader of Sinn Féin that lied about the dates the complaints were received," Deputy Stanley said.

"That lied about the fact that there was a Barrister overseeing it. There was no Barrister. The only day they consulted a Barrister was on the day I resigned,” he claimed.

Ms McDonald has already visited Portlaoise during the campaign to help launch Ms McCormack's campaign at the Sinn Féin Convention. She told the Leinster Express / Laois Live that the outgoing TD should 'man up' and take responsibility for his actions.

On her visit to Portlaoise on November 27, Ms McDonald celebrated the possibility of Ms McCormack making history as Laois' first female TD.