The Sinn Fein party whip has been reinstated to Councillor Cathy Bennett.
She lost the whip in August this year as a result of her foreign holiday against public health guidelines.
On August 28th, on the recommendation of the Sinn Fein National Councillors Forum, the party whip was removed from Councillor Bennett for breaching party guidance and public health advice regarding international travel.
Bennett and her family took a trip to Lanzarote at a time when people were being advised to not travel abroad.
This evening, Councillor Brian McKenna, the party group leader on Monaghan County Council confirmed the readmission of the party whip, with immediate effect.
He said that considering Cathy’s apology for her actions and that there’s no prospect of a similar breach, it wasn’t proposed that further disciplinary procedures be considered.
Reacting to the announcement, Councillor Cathy Bennett said the past number of months have been “incredibly tough” for her family, that she’ll learn from this difficult experience and return to representing the people of North Monaghan to the best of her ability.
Statement by Cllr. Brian McKenna, Sinn Féin group leader on Monaghan County Council on readmission of party whip to Cllr. Cathy Bennett
Sinn Féin group leader on Monaghan County Council, Cllr. Brian McKenna, has said today:
“On 28th August, on the recommendation of the Sinn Féin National Councillors Forum, I removed the party whip from Cllr. Cathy Bennett in respect of her breach of party guidance and public health advice regarding international travel during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Sinn Féin rules stipulate that the removal of the whip should be for a period of three months, unless further disciplinary measures are required. Recognising that Cathy has sincerely apologised for her actions and that there is no prospect of a similar breach occurring, it is not proposed that further disciplinary procedures be considered.
“I can therefore confirm that the Sinn Féin whip has been reinstated to Cllr. Cathy Bennett with immediate effect.”
Cllr. Cathy Bennett said:
“My decision to travel abroad during the pandemic was ill-considered and wrong. I again wish to apologise to the public for any hurt caused by those actions.
“The past number of months have been incredibly tough for my family. I am keen to learn from this difficult experience, but to return to representing the people of North Monaghan to the best of my ability as a Sinn Féin representative.”
