A former Sinn Féin TD says that she felt she was “pushed” from the party and denied that it was anything to do with the prospect of losing a selection convention.
Speaking to the Kildare Today show on Kfm Radio, Patricia Ryan said that she had been “curtailed” in her social media posts by the party’s comhairle ceanntar and said that questions to leader Mary Lou McDonald had been “vetted” ahead of a party meeting.
Ms Ryan will continue to serve as an independent TD, but has opted not to contest the party’s selection convention next week.
However, Ms Ryan said that she had “no issue” with the convention being contested and said that there had been a disconnect between herself and parts of the party’s grassroots.
Ms Ryan said national party leadership had been the ones she felt pushed her. However she said that leader Mary Lou McDonald was not responsible.
“I believe I cannot do the job I was elected to do with what is going on,” she said.
“I feel I’m leaving because I feel I’m not the right fit anymore for this party, and it doesn’t sit comfortably with me, and that’s why I’m leaving this party.
“You can’t sit here and lie,” she added. “This is how I feel.”
The Kildare South TD said that she was not seen as a “weak” representative within the party and rejected local accusations that she had been disengaged from the party organisations.
“I’ve done a lot of speaking in the Dáil and have submitted numerous parliamentary questions. I have a very busy office in Monasterevin and a walk-in clinic in Athy.
“I did not disengage with the Sinn Féin cumann,” she said, saying that a charge that she was not supportive of local candidates was “disingenuous”.
She said that she had canvassed with local representatives during the election campaign earlier this year.
“I’m not here to tell people to leave the party, that’s their decision. But clearly, there’s a lot of discontent.”
As for the future, Ms Ryan made it clear that she has no plans to return to Sinn Féin or join any other political party.
“I am not one for burning my bridges,” she said, “but I will not return to Sinn Féin. I don’t believe I’m the right fit for that party anymore.”
