Councillor Noeleen Reilly announced her resignation from the party in a statement on Monday morning.
Noeleen Reilly, a Sinn Féin councillor in north Dublin, has announced that she is resigning from the party with immediate effect.
In a statement, Reilly claims that she has been the victim of “an orchestrated bullying campaign by a number of people in Dublin Northwest” and has been subject to treatment including “physical assaults, verbal abuse, total isolation” and “smear campaigns” over the last four years.
Reilly’s resignation from the party, of which she has been a member for 17 years, comes after she was issued with a six-month suspension on Saturday following a complaint from another councillor in relation to a long-running row with Dublin North-West TD Dessie Ellis, who has been censured for his role in the dispute.
Reilly posted a series of tweets about her various complaints over the weekend, including tweets which tagged the accounts of Mary Lou McDonald, Gerry Adams and the Sinn Féin party.
Why were my complains ignored but I was dealt with @sinnfeinireland. I'm still waiting on response . I suppose that wait will continue. Verbal abuse, physical assaults , then elected reps justifying it. Disgusting
— Nollaigín Ní Raghallaigh (@NollaiginR) February 4, 2018
I first went to party over bullying in Feb 2014. I was told I had candateits.
— Nollaigín Ní Raghallaigh (@NollaiginR) February 4, 2018
4 years of tears & sleepless night. I was even told I wouldn't get elected as Women in Ballymun don't vote for Women Guess the bullies were wrong.
— Nollaigín Ní Raghallaigh (@NollaiginR) February 4, 2018
Just to clarify the only call I got from @sinnfeinireland about my assault was from a man I had & still have a complaint in against for bullying. Where he told me party would be dealing with it. I accepted this. He never once mentioned going to the Gardai. @MaryLouMcDonald
— Nollaigín Ní Raghallaigh (@NollaiginR) February 5, 2018
News of Reilly’s resignation comes following a tumultuous weekend for the party after footage surfaced of policing spokesperson Gerry Kelly removing a clamp from his car with a pair of bolt cutters.
UPDATE:
Following Reilly’s resignation, Sinn Féin released a statement on Monday explaining their decision to suspend her, claiming that Reilly orchestrated a “vicious bullying campaign” on social media, against fellow female party councillor, Cathleen Carney Boud.
“On Saturday, 3 February, the Sinn Féin Ard Comhairle took the decision to suspend Councillor Noeleen Reilly for a period of six months for orchestrating a vicious bullying campaign against a fellow female party councillor on social media.
“The councillor in question, Councillor Cathleen Carney Boud, has been deeply distressed by her experiences at the hands of Councillor Reilly.”
Speaking on Monday, Councillor Carney Boud said: “Having been the victim of an orchestrated online bullying campaign I made a complaint to Sinn Féin against Councillor Noeleen Reilly who I believed to be behind the campaign. The complaint is supported by documentary evidence.
“I am happy with how the party dealt with my complaint and the outcome of the procedure. I now wish to continue my work as a councillor and won’t be commenting any further on this matter.”
“Councillor Reilly has chosen not to appeal the decision of the Ard Comhairle but has instead resigned from the party,” the statement continued.
“The party is now requesting that she hands the Sinn Féin Dublin City Council seat back to the party. Sinn Féin will not tolerate bullying.
“In relation to Councillor Reilly’s allegation that she was assaulted, the party told Councillor Reilly on numerous occasions that she should report the alleged incident to An Garda Síochana.
“Councillor Reilly was again told last Saturday in correspondence from Party Chairperson Declan Kearney to report the alleged incident to An Garda Síochana.”
Main image via Facebook/Councillor Noeleen Reilly
LISTEN: You Must Be Jokin’ with Aideen McQueen – Faith healers, Coolock craic and Gigging as Gaeilge
