LAST UPDATE | 9 Feb

FINE GAEL SENATOR Martin Conway has resigned from the parliamentary party following his arrest for public intoxication at the end of last month.

In a statement released this morning, the 50-year-old senator said that he was arrested by gardaí on O’Connell Street in the early hours of Tuesday, 22 January, 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.”

He said that this was not disclosed to the party, and issued his apologies to his family, colleagues, supporters, and his nominating body Vision Ireland.

“I let myself down,” he said. “I would also like to apologise to the members of An Garda Síochána for having to deal with this matter.”

Conway said that he understands a disciplinary process will now commence. 

The senator’s statement comes following reports that an unnamed Fine Gael politician was arrested after being found drunk by gardaí. 

Conway, who is from Clare, has been a member of Seanad Éireann since 2011. His statement follows his re-election to the Administrative panel of the Seanad only last week.

He was, up until now, the Fine Gael spokesperson on Health in the Seanad.

In a short statement, the party said: “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.”

Taoiseach Micheál Martin said in an interview on RTÉ Radio today that he was “surprised” when he heard of the incident. 

“It clearly is a very, very difficult moment for him on a personal level, and I don’t know the background to the circumstances of his arrest,” Martin said.

“But 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.”