SINN FÉIN HAS welcomed Cork councillor Melissa Mullane back into the party less than three months after she was suspended over a bullying controversy.

The Mallow-based councillor was handed a 12-month suspension in June after an internal review of the Sinn Féin organisation in Cork found she had been “uncomradely” towards sitting TD Sandra McLellan.

However Mullane has won her appeal against the decision and was readmitted to the party in recent days. She will now resume her role as a Sinn Féin councillor on Cork County Council.

Mullane’s colleague, Cobh-based councillor Kieran McCarthy, was expelled from the party over allegations of bullying against McLellan and alleged financial irregularities within the Cobh cumann. He denied the allegations.

Kieran McCarthy and Melissa Mullane Sinn Féin / Facebook Sinn Féin / Facebook / Facebook

McCarthy has since declared he will run as an independent candidate in the general election and has threatened to sue Sinn Féin.

The party lifted his expulsion in July in order to allow him to help the party in its investigation into financial irregularities in Cobh.

Both councillors had expressed an interest in running for the party in Cork East and were set to challenge McLellan at the constituency selection convention which has still yet to take place.

• Background: What on earth is going on with Sinn Féin in Cork East?

The internal review, chaired by Cork North Central TD Jonathan O’Brien, found that Mullane had intentionally undermined and marginalised McLellan.

As the review was taking place, an anonymous blog, ‘An Rebel Óg’, strongly criticised McLellan’s performance as a TD.

Jonathan O'Brien led the internal review TheJournal.ie TheJournal.ie

Sinn Féin said it would not be making details of the review public.

Following the review, both councillors were ordered to resign their seats on Cork County Council but neither did so.

In a statement today, Sinn Féin party whip Aengus Ó Snodaigh siad Mullane had won her appeal and the party executive, the Ard Comhairle, has now lifted her suspension.

Mullane said in a statement: “I am pleased that these matters have been concluded and look forward to resuming my role as a Sinn Féin councillor on Cork County Council.”

Read: As many as 70 Sinn Féin members in Cork are resigning from the party