Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald has said her party has sent a file relating to an internal inquiry into now-resigned party TD Brian Stanley to gardaí.
In a statement this afternoon, the Sinn Féin leader said "we will not ignore or hide away from difficult issues when they arise".
Laois-Offaly TD and Dáil Public Accounts Committee chair, Mr Stanley, resigned from the party last night, saying in a statement he had done so as "in recent months a certain clique within the party have gone to extreme lengths to damage my reputation".
Mr Stanley's statement said that "on foot of a complaint I was recently brought to an internal party inquiry", which he said "lacked objectivity" was "seriously flawed" and "resembled a type of kangaroo court".
It is unclear what the precise nature of the internal inquiry involved.
Ms McDonald confirmed files relating to the case have now been sent to An Garda Síochána.
She said: "A complaint was made against Deputy Brian Stanley at the end of July by a long-standing member of the party and a panel was set up under our internal disciplinary processes to investigate the complaint.
"During the preliminary stages of the inquiry, further information was brought forward which resulted in a counter allegation being made.
"Deputy Stanley's rights were protected throughout this process. He had, as was his right, a solicitor and a barrister with him at the meeting with the disciplinary panel.
"A preliminary report was furnished to both individuals last week and they were given seven days to respond. At the same time, outside legal advice was sought by the party.
"The internal process has now been suspended and the issue has been passed to An Garda Síochána. Brian Stanley and the other party have been informed of this," Ms McDonald said.
She said Sinn Féin "will not ignore or hide away from difficult issues when they arise".
She said: "These are not outcomes that anyone likes to see but let me be clear we have robust procedures for dealing with these issues and they will be followed at all times and apply equally to all members of the party."
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First elected to the Dáil in 2011, Mr Stanley has been involved with Sinn Féin for 40 years and is the chairman of the Public Accounts Committee.
Mr Stanley said he would remain a "republican TD" outside the party following his resignation.
Earlier today, Sinn Féin MEP Lynn Boylan accused Mr Stanley of putting out half a story and urged him to reveal the complaint that led to the internal party investigation being launched.
Speaking on Newstalk, Ms Boylan said: "Brian could end all of this today, and actually could tell people what he was being investigated for, if he felt so hard done by in terms of that process."
Sinn Féin TD Pa Daly said he was disappointed by the news of Mr Stanley's resignation from the party.
Paying tribute on The Week in Politics, Mr Daly said Mr Stanley had "good politics and had a good sense of humour".
Mr Daly said that internal difficulties and disputes happen in all parties and that he did not think there was any question of 'cliques'.
Mr Stanley's departure from Sinn Féin comes just days after Kildare-South TD Patricia Ryan resigned from the party.
Ms Ryan said she has been unhappy for around 18 months and has been asking Sinn Féin to deal with issues, but said they were left to "fester".
She said she had issues about being curtailed in what she would put up on Facebook, and with members being asked about questions for the leader in advance of meetings.
