Result of Sinn Fein inquiry due soon

A Sinn Féin inquiry into the suspension from the party of a newly-elected Dublin councillor is expected to be completed within a few days.

Party sources yesterday refused to disclose the nature of the allegations made against Mr Martin Christie, who was elected to Fingal County Council for the Mulhuddart area.

The sources said Mr Christie had been suspended "without prejudice" and that a Dublin officer board was carrying out the investigation. "There has been no public indication of what Mr Christie is accused of, nor should there be, in fairness to him," said a party spokesman.

The party's newly-elected Dublin MEP, Ms Mary Lou McDonald, yesterday told the Today FM's Sunday Supplement show that the allegations were not of a sexual nature. However, she refused to elaborate on what they were.

Mr Christie was one of Sinn Féin's outstanding local election performers, topping the poll in Mulhuddart with 1,910 votes. His victory represented a gain for the party in the four-seater.

He outpolled Ms Ruth Coppinger of the Socialist Party, despite the fact that her party colleague, Mr Joe Higgins TD, had topped the poll in the 1999 local elections. If Mr Christie was to lose the party whip on Fingal County Council, he could remain on as an Independent councillor. In such circumstances, there would probably be calls by Sinn Féin on Mr Christie to resign his seat, but there would be no requirement on him to do so.