Former Limerick Senator signs off after almost a decade in public life

FORMER SINN Fein Senator Paul Gavan has signed off after almost a decade in politics.

The Castleconnell man, who just three months ago, was on his party’s General Election ticket with Maurice Quinlivan, was not formally nominated by Sinn Fein for the Senate.

It comes despite him being returned to the Upper House at the 2016 and 2020 elections, and also running in the European Election alongside MEP Kathleen Funchion last summer.

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Mr Gavan did contest the election under the Sinn Fein banner, as it was too late to remove him. He received a handful of votes, but was well off the pace in securing election to the industrial panel.

Last week, he made his final appearance at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, a group which he has served on for seven years.

He spoke to its secretary general Alain Berset on behalf of the Unified European Left, and questioned why the group had not condemned the actions of the Israeli state over its actions in Gaza.

Mr Berset declined to answer, instead, referencing the ceasefire in the region.

But Mr Gavan - who will be made an honorary member of the group - said the fact no senior member of the Assembly has spoken to condemn the actions have “done untold damage” to the Council of Europe’s reputation “as a defender of human rights.”