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, and Deputy O'Hara says the situation became clear after Sinn Féin's Ard Fheis in Belfast.
A motion to ban fox hunting with dogs passed by party members, and following that, Deputy O'Hara says Councillor McNamara said he would resign from the party.
Deputy O'Hara has thanked Councillor McNamara for his work, but said when co-opted, Martin signed a pledge that he would resign the council seat should he leave Sinn Féin, to facilitate a new co-option.
Deputy O'Hara has been speaking to our reporter Sarah Slevin
