Sinn Féin is without a TD in Laois for the first time since 2011, after sitting deputy Brian Stanley retained his seat but this time as an Independent.
After months of mutual recrimination that saw him leave the party in October, the 66-year-old wreaked revenge by taking the third and final seat in the constituency.
His wife Caroline Dwane Stanley is now Sinn Féin’s only elected public representative in Laois. At the count centre, Ms Dwane Stanley declared that she would refuse to resign from the party until she “gets answers” from senior members regarding the debacle that led to his resignation. She also described the past five months as “hell” for the couple and their family.
Despite a county organisation in turmoil, Sinn Féin candidate Maria McCormack performed well but could never close the gap on Stanley, who was the party’s poll-topper in Laois-Offaly in 2020.
By contrast, the first two seats were retained without drama by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael. Junior minister Sean Fleming (FF) regained the seat he has held since 1997, while Willie Aird (FG) topped the poll to fill the seat held by the Flanagan family since 1943. He succeeds former justice minister Charlie Flanagan, who announced his retirement earlier this year.
