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Irish politician resigns after being arrested when found drunk and ‘on all fours’ on Dublin’s O’Connell Street.
Fine Gael Senator Martin Conway has resigned from the party after he was arrested in an “intoxicated state” on Dublin’s O’Connell Street last month.
It comes just days after his re-election to the Seanad.
In a statement this morning, Mr Conway said he was arrested in the early hours of Tuesday 22 January “for being in an intoxicated state due to consumption of sleeping tablets and alcohol” on O’Connell Street.
“I was detained at Store Street Garda Station and subsequently released without charge a number of hours later.”
He said this information was not disclosed to the Fine Gael party and he understands a “disciplinary process” will now commence.
“I would like to apologise unreservedly for this to my family, colleagues, supporters and my 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.
“I have resigned from the Fine Gael Parliamentary Party.”
A spokesperson for Fine Gael has said the party “notes Senator Martin Conway’s statement, apologies and his resignation of the party whip” and confirmed the matter is now subject to a party disciplinary process.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said he is “very surprised at what has transpired” and learned about the situation this morning.
“It clearly is a very, very difficult moment for him on a personal level,” he told RTÉ’s This Week.
“I don’t know the background to the circumstances of his arrest due to intoxication, as he said himself, too much alcohol with sleeping tablets but, as he said himself, he’s left himself down.
“It’s very challenging for his family, and I think he needs time now, on a personal level, to rebuild his life and maybe deal, perhaps, with the issues that led to that arrest,” Mr Martin said.
Fine Gael Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon has said he is “very disappointed to see this has happened”, adding that the party is dealing with the situation in “real time”.
Speaking to RTÉ’s The Week in Politics, Mr Heydon said: “Ultimately, we are held to a very high standard as Fine Gael public representatives, we signed a party pledge that commits to upholding those standards and to informing the party if incidents happen.
“The party wasn’t informed in this instance, but I do understand that Fine Gael will now undertake a disciplinary process regarding this case.”
Asked whether the incident raises questions about the judgement of the party leadership, Mr Heydon said: “What can we do about a situation we find out about this weekend in a media report? It is clearly incumbent on an individual within the party, who has signed a party pledge to be a Fine Gael candidate, that if an incident arises, they inform the party and that didn’t happen in this case.
“We are dealing with it very much in real time. I’m aware there’s not just the individual, but family members and a supporter network all affected by this dreadful situation. It is really regrettable and I note and welcome Martin’s statement and action this morning.”
Labour TD Marie Sherlock deleted a tweet praising Mr Conway, which said he is a “very principled and honourable politician”.
She said she deleted the tweet because when she sent it, she thought he had resigned his Seanad seat.
“Saddened to hear of Martin Conway’s resignation. I don’t know anything about the circumstances. But what I do know is that Irish politics is losing a very principled and honourable politician. On the NMH and other issues he spoke out when others were silent,” the Dublin Central TD tweeted.
She later told the Irish Independent: “[I deleted it] because I mistakenly thought he had resigned Seanad seat.”
The Fine Gael politician was arrested after being found extremely drunk on Dublin’s O’Connell Street last month.
The Sunday Independent reported that the politician was arrested on O’Connell Street, close to the Gresham Hotel, after he was discovered unable to get up due to his level of intoxication on January 22.
The incident happened just hours before the Dáil was forced to disband after a failed attempt to elect Micheál Martin as Taoiseach amid the row over speaking time for Independent TDs who were supporting the Government.
Gardaí arrested the elected representative and took him to Store Street garda station. He was later released without charge.
A statement from Garda HQ to this newspaper said: “Gardaí on patrol in the O’Connell Street area had an interaction with a male in the early hours of January 22, 2025. Any interaction with An Garda Síochána has fully concluded. An Garda Síochána is not providing any further details.”
It is understood that An Garda Síochána does not intend to seek criminal charges against him.
A spokesperson for Fine Gael said: “The party was not aware that the politician had been arrested prior to the media query.”
The man’s arrest in the early hours of Wednesday, January 22, took place just hours before the Dáil reconvened in order to elect Fianna Fáil’s Micheál Martin as the new Taoiseach.
However, amid chaotic scenes over a row about a bid to give government-supporting Independents opposition speaking time, Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy suspended the Dáil and Mr Martin was not appointed Taoiseach until the next day.