Galway County Councillor Martin McNamara has resigned from Sinn Féin.
The Athenry-Oranmore area representative was co-opted to the seat vacated by Louis O'Hara on his election as a TD in December 2024.
Councillor McNamara has not publicly announced his resignation so his reasons are at this point unknown.
However in a statement issued in the last few minutes Deputy O'Hara - while thanking Councillor McNamara for his work - has pointed out that when he was co-opted he signed a pledge - that he would resign his membership of Galway County Council, should he leave Sinn Féin, to facilitate a new co-option.
Deputy O'Hara claims that Martin has indicated that he intends to continue as an Independent councillor.
The Galway East TD adds that Martin does not have a mandate to represent the area as an Independent Councillor and he is disappointed that he has refused to honour the agreement made.
