MARY Lou McDonald's husband is threatening to sue the author of an unauthorised biography on the Sinn Féin leader for defamation.
It was reported yesterday that solicitors acting for Martin Lanigan had hand-delivered a letter to the home of Shane Ross, who wrote 'Mary Lou McDonald: A Republican Riddle'.
The legal action is believed to be related to a chapter in the book about the purchase, extension and renovation of the couple's home in Cabra, Dublin.
According to the Sunday Independent, Mr Lanigan's solicitors - McCartan and Burke - state in the letter that a claimed "imputation" in Mr Ross's book is "groundless and untrue" adding that Mr Lanigan "has a reasonable expectation of privacy as to his financial affairs".
The letter, which is understood to have been delivered to Mr Ross at his Co Wicklow home last Tuesday, also allegedly claims that Mr Lanigan is demanding an apology, financial compensation and legal costs or he will issue legal proceedings without further notice.
The book by Mr Ross, a former long-serving senator, TD and cabinet minister whom the Sinn Féin leader once worked alongside on the Dáil's Public Accounts Committee, was published earlier this month.
Ms McDonald declined to speak to Mr Ross for the 400-page book, saying she felt the publication was "premature".
It was reported that the chapter that the legal action is related to is subtitled 'The Mansion in Cabra' and that Mr Lanigan's solicitors say it "constitutes a gross invasion and breach of his right to privacy".
His legal team are also understood to have stated that he has a "reasonable expectation of privacy as to his financial affairs" and they claim readers of the biography are ultimately invited to make conclusions which are "groundless and untrue and represent a grave and extremely damaging attack" on his name and reputation.
Mr Ross told the Sunday Independent he was "surprised" to receive the letter from Mr Lanigan's solicitors and said that there was "no allegation in the book of impropriety over the refurbishment of their house by either Martin Lanigan or Mary Lou".
He added that the book asked "reasonable questions, which should be answered" and that he would "fully defend any proceedings" if required.
