The sister of murder victim Robert McCartney has described the nomination of Maíria Cahill to contest the Seanad election as an appalling abuse of the Oireachtas.
Catherine McCartney, whose brother was murdered in Belfast in 2005, has called on the Labour Party and Ms Cahill to provide a "credible" explanation regarding her involvement with the dissident Republican Network for Unity (RNU) group.
Ms McCartney said: "Reservations I have surround her alleged senior position in RNU which, it appears, was as recent as 2011."
She has today written to Oireachtas members outlining her concerns.
Ms McCartney said without an explanation, Ms Cahill's expected appointment to the Seanad appears to be solely for political purposes.
This undermines the campaigning work of victims' families, from all backgrounds who campaign for justice for their loved ones, she said.
Ms McCartney called on Labour Party leader Joan Burton to reflect on the decision to nominate Ms Cahill to the Seanad position.
A Labour Party spokesperson Ms Cahill had addressed her brief involvement with the RNU on numerous occasions in the past, and on the public record.
The spokesperson said she was fully committed to the Good Friday Agreement, to peace, to democracy, and to the rule of law.
The spokesperson added that the Labour Party was very happy to have Ms Cahill as its candidate in this Seanad by-election.
The spokesperson said that if elected to Seanad Éireann on Friday when the votes of TDs and Senators are counted in Leinster House, Ms Cahill will use her position to promote these issues, alongside her own priority areas of youth unemployment and she will continue to campaign on behalf of victims of abuse.
The spokesperson said that the Labour Party was proud that she was their candidate in this by-election.
There were heated exchanges in the Seanad today over Ms Cahill’s candidacy.
Independent Senators David Norris and Fidelma Healy Eames expressed concern over the nomination, pointing to Ms McCartney's earlier call for a credible explanation from the Labour Party on the matter.
Deputy Leader of the House Ivana Bacik interrupted both Senators on a point of order during their contributions, which lead to a heated exchange as Cathaoirleach Paddy Burke attempted to maintain order.
