Irish senator resigns from Fine Gael after arrest while publicly intoxicated

An Irish senator has resigned from his parliamentary party after admitting to being arrested by gardai for being intoxicated in public.

In a statement issued by the Fine Gael party, Senator Martin Conway said he had been arrested on Dublin’s main thoroughfare O’Connell Street on January 22 for being in an intoxicated state “due to consumption of sleeping tablets and alcohol”.

He said he had let himself down and resigned from the Fine Gael parliamentary party, adding that a disciplinary process would now commence.

Mr Conway, from Co Clare, was recently re-elected to Ireland’s senate, the Seanad.

The senator, who has a visual impairment, had been nominated by sight-loss agency Vision Ireland.

In his statement, Mr Conway said: “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.”

It follows reporting on the incident in the Sunday Independent which did not identify the senator by name.

Mr Conway added: “I let myself down. I would also like to apologise to the members of An Garda Siochana for having to deal with this matter.

“I have resigned from the Fine Gael parliamentary party.”

Fine Gael said it noted Mr Conway’s statement, adding: “The matter is now subject to a party disciplinary process.”

Irish premier and Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin said he became aware of the incident on Sunday morning but was not aware of the background to the arrest.

Speaking to RTE radio, Mr Martin said: “As he said himself, he’s left himself down. It’s very challenging for his family, and I think he needs time now to – on a personal level – endeavour to rebuild his life and maybe deal with perhaps the issues that led to that arrest.”