Updated 4.28pm 

SINN FÉIN’S JONATHAN Dowdall has resigned from Dublin City Council this afternoon.

The council confirmed the decision in an email to all councillors this afternoon with the 34-year-old businessman’s resignation taking effect from this Sunday.

He could not be reached for comment today.

Dowdall’s decision follows a long-running saga in which he initially backtracked on a decision to step down from his seat for health reasons last September.

Dowdall later said he intended quitting Sinn Féin altogether after claiming a “small element” in the party in north inner city Dublin spread negative rumours about him.

But he then told TheJournal.ie last October that he was “delighted” to be remaining with Sinn Féin and said that the decision came after talks with party figures.

Some of his council colleagues have already been reacting:

Sorry to hear Cllr. Jonathan Dowdall (Sinn Féin - North Inner City) will resign next Sunday from @DubCityCouncil. I wish him well

— Ciarán Cuffe (@CiaranCuffe) February 13, 2015

Source: Ciarán Cuffe/Twitter

The first @DubCityCouncil resignation this term as @sinnfeinireland's Jonathan Dowdall steps down. I wish him well.

— Noel Rock (@NoelRock) February 13, 2015

Source: Noel Rock/Twitter

My best wishes to my former #northinnercity colleague Jonathan Dowdall following his resignation from @DubCityCouncil

— Cllr. Ray McAdam (@RayMcAdam) February 13, 2015

Source: Cllr. Ray McAdam/Twitter

The vacant seat will now be filled by a member of Sinn Féin who will be co-opted onto the council.

In a statement this afternoon, the Sinn Féin group leader Séamas McGrattan said: “We wish Jonathan the best in the future and his contribution to the Dublin Sinn Féin council team will be greatly missed.

“I would like to acknowledge his commitment to the party and I am sorry to lose such a valuable member of the group.

“I enjoyed working with Jonathan and I would like to offer him a sincere thanks on behalf of all the team. I hope Jonathan will remain involved with Sinn Féin in the North Inner City.”

September 2014: Sinn Féin councillor resigns for health reasons

September 2014: Councillor quits Sinn Féin over ‘negative rumours from small elements’

October 2014: Dublin councillor who said he was quitting Sinn Féin is now staying with the party