The Fianna Fáil councillor at the centre of a controversy over mobile-phone photographs of him at a private party has said that he does not intend resigning from the party or from Dublin City Council.
Cllr Liam Kelly said last night that he had not received a legal letter from Fianna Fáil about the controversy, and he dismissed reports of a proposed meeting by fellow Fianna Fáil Dublin city councillors to discuss removing the party whip from him as "inaccurate".
He again denied that he was taking drugs in the photograph published in some newspapers which showed him hunched over white powder with a rolled-up piece of paper.
However, he declined to provide an explanation of what he was doing, on the basis that it formed part of a Garda investigation into a complaint by him that he was the subject of a blackmail attempt concerning the images.
It was reported in recent days that Fianna Fáil's solicitors had sent Cllr Kelly a letter seeking a detailed explanation of events, and that fellow Fianna Fáil members of Dublin City Council were due to meet this week to decide on whether he should have the party whip removed from him.
He said he had "no intention" of resigning from the party.
"Over the last number of days a number of inaccurate reports have been published about my position as a Fianna Fáil public representative," he said. "Although I have had frank and open discussions with party officials, I wish to state categorically that I have not been asked to resign from the party and nor have I been asked by the [ Fianna Fáil] group on Dublin City Council to resign the party whip at that level."
He added: "I can't talk about matters in relation to the investigation but I am not, and never have been, a drug user. I have not received a letter from the party, nor has my solicitor," he said of the reports of a letter sent to him by Fianna Fáil.
"Gardaí are continuing to investigate the allegations of extortion and I am very supportive of their work thus far and have co-operated with them fully."
Fianna Fáil declined to comment yesterday.
However, fellow Fianna Fáil city councillor Seán Paul Mahon said there was no Fianna Fáil group meeting planned to discuss Mr Kelly's position, and that he did not believe any action was appropriate at this time.
"I'm very sympathetic to Liam and his position and I don't believe anything should be moved upon until everything is investigated."
Cllr Kelly has consistently denied any wrongdoing since the photographs were published nine days ago.
He has said the photographs were being used in an attempt to extort money from him. He has reported the matter to gardaí at Santry Garda station.