Tánaiste Leo Varadkar has said that “at least three” Fine Gael members have received legal letters from Sinn Féin as he questioned who funds the party’s legal expenses.
However, Sinn Féin TD Eoin Ó Broin insisted that any members who want to take legal action must foot the bill themselves.
The Government has continually accused Sinn Féin in recent days of sending legal letters to both the media and political parties.
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On Sunday, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said that Sinn Féin had “built its entire existence on honouring a campaign of violence but now attacks and sues anyone who claims that they supported particular actions within that campaign”.
It comes following RTÉ’s decision not to broadcast an interview with former Minister Shane Ross about his unauthorised biography on Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald.
Ms McDonald has taken a High Court case against the national broadcaster for alleged defamation during a Morning Ireland interview in February.
The Tánaiste told the Irish Mirror that while he has never received a legal letter from Sinn Féin, several members of Fine Gael have.
He questioned if Sinn Féin funds its members' legal fees or if the public reps pay out of their own pockets.
“It's not unprecedented for politicians to sue. I’ve never done it; I’ve never issued a solicitor’s letter to anyone in my life,” Mr Varadkar said.
“But it is not unprecedented for politicians to do it. But there is a risk involved.
“There are considerable legal costs in suing anyone and there's always the risk that you won't be successful. There's nothing new in that.
“But what seems different this time is that it seems almost strategic. [Sinn Féin] appear to be using the same law firm.
“I'm not sure whether they are bearing the cost themselves.
“Certainly, if anyone in Fine Gael decided to sue the media or another person, we say it's a matter for them.
“We don't advise people to do that. We certainly don't pay any other legal costs.
“I would just wonder, on this occasion, is this something more strategic?
“Is Sinn Féin actually encouraging their public reps to sue other people?
“Are they underwriting some of the cost and the financial risk?
“If that is the case, then that's something quite new. That is the strategic use of legal action to try and stifle debate and that's worrying.”
Mr Varadkar would not go into details on who in Fine Gael received legal letters from members of Sinn Féin.
Sinn Fein TD Eoin Ó Broin told RTÉ’s Drivetime that “any member of the party who decides “to take a libel action does so individually and funds it themselves”.
“If Leo Varadkar wants to have less libel actions against his members, he should tell them to stop libelling members of our party,'' he said.
A Sinn Féin spokesperson also denied Mr Varadkar's comments.
"Legal actions are funded by those who have no option but to vindicate their good names in the face of false accusations made by others," they said.
"Is the Fine Gael leader suggesting it should be okay for people to tell lies about members of Sinn Féin? Well, it’s not.
"The right to vindicate ones good name has no impact on the cut and thrust of political debate, as can be seen in the Dáil, in council chambers and in media debates on a daily basis.
"Numerous Fine Gael representatives have taken similar cases. Leo Varadkar is perfectly au fait with how defamation laws work."
Fine Gael sources could not confirm to The Mirror to whom the legal letters may have been sent.
Senator Regina Doherty posted an apology on Twitter to Sinn Féin TD Pearse Doherty in February over an allegation that he “encouraged others to break the law”.
Sources said at the time that a solicitor’s letter may have led to the apology being posted but both Fine Gael and Sinn Féin declined to confirm this.
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