Sinn Fein candidate wins High Court order lifting suspension from party

A Sinn Féin local election candidate from County Sligo has secured a High Court order lifting his indefinite suspension from the party. Edward McCarrick, 33, with an address in Tubbercurry, was selected to contest the Ballymote electoral area in October 2013 but was suspended in early November. He claimed the suspension was imposed without disclosure of the complaint's nature, the complainant's identity, or opportunity to respond, breaching party procedures. The court heard that concerns had been raised regarding alleged threatening comments. Mr Justice Sean Ryan held that the candidate, entitled to the presumption of innocence, could not remain indefinitely suspended from the party while investigations by An Garda Síochána proceeded independently. The judge acknowledged the party had acted appropriately in referring sensitive information to gardaí but found ongoing suspension incompatible with due process. The injunction was granted and the suspension lifted accordingly.