The chairman of Sinn Féin, Mr Mitchel McLaughlin, has called for a Government inquiry "into what is going on in north Kerry". His call came after allegations by the party's general election candidate, Mr Martin Ferris, on Monday night that he was assaulted while in Garda custody in Killarney.
The "systematic harassment of the Sinn Féin election operation in north Kerry" needed to be looked into, the party chairman said.
If this "very serious allegation" was made in the North, people would immediately know how to deal with it, Mr McLaughlin said on Radio Kerry.
What was happening in North Kerry was politically motivated, he said, but how Mr Ferris could be abused in police custody had to be explained.
Mr Ferris was held for 12 hours. He is the sixth member of his party to be arrested in the past fortnight and released without charge in connection with an abduction in Castleisland in December. Files are being sent to the DPP. In all, 10 people have been arrested in connection with the incident.
Mr Ferris has made a formal complaint through his solicitor about the alleged assault which he claims took place while he was being interrogated.
Mr Ferris said he was caught by the throat, pushed against a wall, had his arms twisted and was pushed around a room. A doctor was called at his request. Mr Ferris also claims he was verbally abused by gardaí.
It would be some months before there were any findings, as the complaints procedure was a slow, lengthy process, his solicitor, Mr Michael Kelly, said.
Mr Kelly has also written to the local Garda chief superintendent on behalf of Mr James Sheehan, the Sinn Féin Kerry North director of elections, regarding "ongoing harassment" which Mr Sheehan alleges has been taking place. Senior gardaí in Kerry have denied any watch on Sinn Féin.
The allegation of assault is being investigated, the Garda press office confirmed.
The Minister for Justice, Mr O'Donoghue, said in a statement last night he was "astounded and disappointed" that Sinn Féin should continue to allege there has been interference with the Garda or anyone in the political system or his Department.
Sinn Féin must be aware the investigation of crime is a matter for An Garda Síochána, he said, and neither he nor any other member of Government had a function or discretion in relation to such Garda operational matters.