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Sinn F\u00e9in TD and Public Accounts Committee chairman Brian Stanley is \u201cguilty of colossal errors of judgment\u201d by posting two controversial tweets, a party colleague has said.<\/p>\nSinn F\u00e9in TD and Public Accounts Committee chairman Brian Stanley is \u201cguilty of colossal errors of judgment\u201d by posting two controversial tweets, a party colleague has said.<\/p>\n
Sinn Fein TD Eoin O Broin said the tweets have caused \u201ca lot of hurt\u201d but he rejected claims Mr Stanley is not fit to chair the committee.<\/p>\n
He described Mr Stanley as a \u201cfine politician and a good public representative\u201d.<\/p>\n
Mr Stanley, who is taking this week off to spend time with his family at the request of his party leader, Mary Lou McDonald, is to make a statement to the D\u00e1il about the social media posts.<\/p>\n
Mr Stanley had been facing mounting calls to appear before the D\u00e1il following a series of controversies.<\/p>\n
On Wednesday, he publicly apologized for a tweet sent last weekend, which appeared to glorify historical killings of British soldiers by the IRA.<\/p>\n
But he insisted he has \u201cno apology to make\u201d over a 2017 tweet he sent that appeared to comment on the sexuality of Fine Gael leader Leo Varadkar.<\/p>\n
The Laois-Offaly TD has now deleted his Twitter account.<\/p>\n
Mr O Broin claimed on Sunday that his party colleague has been accused of things that are \u201cwrong\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat he is guilty of is colossal errors of judgment pertaining to both tweets,\u201d he told RTE.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was insensitive and poor judgment, he caused a lot of hurt with both of them and the right thing for Brian to do is reflect on all of that.<\/p>\n
\u201cGiven he has been accused of some pretty appalling things, it has been a difficult week for him and I think offering to come to the D\u00e1il and make a full detailed statement is the right thing to do.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople make mistakes and in Brian\u2019s case two particularly bad mistakes.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think when people make mistakes they should own up to them, they should apologize, they should explain.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think Brian has been accused of things which are completely untrue, he is a politician of serious integrity. I think people should take Brian at his word.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Stanley has rejected accusations of homophobia over the tweet he sent when the Tanaiste was elected Fine Gael leader.<\/p>\n
Fine Gael Minister Simon Harris said: \u201cWhat I find it very difficult to take is that if I had sent those tweets and I was sitting here today, deputy O Broin and Sinn F\u00e9in would probably be calling for me to resign from government, probably saying I was unfit to hold office, definitely demanding that I go into the D\u00e1il to answer questions on everything and anything.<\/p>\n
\u201cI ask that Sinn F\u00e9in hold themselves to the same level and standard that they would hold me to.\u201d<\/p>\n
Responding to reports of online attacks by Sinn F\u00e9in supporters, Mr O Broin urged those people to \u201cstop what they are doing\u201d as they are not aiding or assisting the party.<\/p>\n