Laois County Councillor Caroline Dwane-Stanley, the wife of Brian Stanley, has resigned from Sinn Féin.

She said she is leaving over how "the party leadership dealt with the controversy in July" relating to her husband.

She says she will continue in her role as an independent republican councillor for the Portlaoise/Abbelyleix Municipal District.

This officially leaves Sinn Féin with no party representative serving in Laois.

Brian Stanley left the party in October amid a controversy relating to a complaint against him, to which he made a counter allegation.

He ran in this year's General Election as an Independent candidate, and retained his seat in Laois.