Sinn Féin local election candidate Paddy 'The Hooligan' Holohan at his gym in Dublin. Picture by Niall Carson, Press Association

Sinn Féin has suspended Councillor Paddy Holohan and has initiated a disciplinary process following controversial remarks he made on a podcast.

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald told reporters in Dublin today that Mr Holohan's comments about underage girls were upsetting and "beyond offensive".

Mr Holohan has come under fire and had to apologise to Taoiseach Leo Varadkar yesterday after saying he would prefer to see a "family man" as leader of the country.

New comments emerged today where Mr Holohan claimed on the same podcast that underage girls were having sex with men and then blackmailing them for up to €10,000.

He told the No Shame podcast in the course of a discussion about women: "There is some f****** scum women out there as well.

Breaking: Mary Lou McDonald says SF initiating disciplinary action on Cllr Paddy Holohan after his comments on his podcast: pic.twitter.com/yIr3h02C5o — Shane Beatty (@ShaneBeattyNews) January 17, 2020

"And I just want to say to you, there's a situation that I heard during the week... somebody was underage, the person didn't know they were underage, the girl pursued the guy.

"Got whatever she needed, had pictures, had videos, and then said 'I want 10 grand'.

"And that was, that wasn't the first person, there was loads of them.

"What is that kind of situation is that that's going on in society now? I have two sons.

Mary Lou reacting to Sinn Féin's suspension of Councillor Paddy Holohan.



I asked if she had spoke to him today: pic.twitter.com/wePf2ZuQnN — Hugh O'Connell (@oconnellhugh) January 17, 2020

"It petrifies me, petrifies me that somebody could turn around and say I'm literally just going to say that you attacked me if you don't give me 10 grand."

Sinn Féin announced today that Mr Holohan had been suspended from the party with immediate effect, while a disciplinary process begins.

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said: "I have moved immediately to the party's disciplinary procedures, all of that matter is now in hand and disciplinary action will be taken.

"Obviously the comments themselves are offensive, they're beyond offensive. I actually find them upsetting.

"I'm very, very shocked at the comments made and the party's disciplinary procedure is now activated, as we speak."

Yesterday, the councillor and former MMA fighter said he "apologised to anyone who was offended" by remarks he made about Mr Varadkar, who is gay, claiming his comments had been "misinterpreted".

In a podcast, Mr Holohan questioned Mr Varadkar's connection to Ireland because of his Indian heritage and said he would prefer a "family man" to be taoiseach.

He also said: "Leo Varadkar's blood obviously runs to India so his great grandfather is not part of the history of this country."

Mr Varadkar accepted Mr Holohan's apology and said many people from from a minority background in Ireland have likely experienced racism.

"I think we can never do enough," said the taoiseach.

"We just need to raise awareness of the issue and make sure that we have a properly united country, whether you are a man or a woman, no matter what background you come from, whether you're a member of the travelling community or not or who you love."