Senator Martin Conway. Photograph: Natasha Barton
CLARE SENATOR, Martin Conway (FG) has resigned from the Fine Gael parliamentary party.
It has emerged that the Ennistymon was arrested on January 22nd after he was found intoxicated and “on all fours” in O’Connell Street, Dublin. He was later released without charge.
Conway was only re-elected to the Seanad last week for the fourth time. It is unclear at this stage if he will remain in the Seanad as an Independent. The Clare Echo has been unsuccessful in its efforts to contact Conway.
In a statement released by Fine Gael on Sunday morning, Conway said, “In the early hours of Tuesday, January 22nd, I was arrested by An Garda Síochána on O’Connell Street, Dublin 1 for being in an intoxicated state due to consumption of sleeping tablets and alcohol. I was detained at Store Street Garda Station and subsequently released without charge a number of hours later.
“This was not disclosed to the party. I would like to apologise unreservedly for this to my family, colleagues, supporters and my nominating body, Vision Ireland. I let myself down. I would also like to apologise to the members of An Garda Síochána for having to deal with this matter,” he added.
Ennistymon native Martin confirmed he has resigned from the Fine Gael parliamentary party. “I have resigned from the Fine Gael Parliamentary Party. I understand that a disciplinary process will now commence”.
The Clare Echo understands that party officials met with Conway in his native Ennistymon on Saturday night before his resignation.
In a statement to The Clare Echo, a spokesperson for Fine Gael commented, “Fine Gael notes Senator Martin Conway’s statement, apologies and his resignation of the party whip. The matter is now subject to a party disciplinary process”.
The Irish Independent had reported that a politician arrested after he was found extremely drunk was also separately at the centre of a party investigation over inappropriate behaviour towards a female staffer.
