A Newry-Armagh assembly member has dramatically quit the DUP and dropped an action against the party over its attempts to suspend him.
Paul Berry was named in Sunday newspaper reports about an alleged hotel encounter with a masseur during the Westminster election campaign last year.
He accepts that a meeting in a hotel took place, but he disputes the character of it. Mr Berry (29) had gone to court in an effort to challenge the DUP's attempt to discipline him.
However, that challenge ended suddenly at the Belfast High Court yesterday when his representation withdrew the case.
Barry Macdonald said the case was being withdrawn and Mr Berry had decided to donate £3,000 towards the DUP's legal costs.
In a statement issued by solicitors Madden and Finucane, Mr Berry said afterwards: "Today I wish to publicly announce my resignation from the DUP.
"I wanted to ensure that their disciplinary process was fair, lawful and came to a just outcome . . . It is unfortunate that this issue remains unresolved.
"However, given that it is clear I have no future within the DUP, no matter what the outcome is of these proceedings, there is no point in continuing with this action."
Mr Berry's departure could mean that any newly constituted executive would have a different party composition. The reduction in the DUP's assembly ranks from 33 to 32 could mean one minister fewer in an executive under the d'Hondt formula.