A disciplinary process against Senator Martin Conway, who resigned from the Fine Gael parliamentary party after confirming he had been arrested “in an intoxicated state”, could take months, and will consider a number of potential outcomes.
While the disciplinary process has begun it is understood Mr Conway is taking some time off in light of the revelations.
Mr Conway announced his resignation from the Fine Gael parliamentary party this weekend. He said he was arrested following an incident on January 22nd on Dublin’s O’Connell Street, and he was later released without charge.
There is considerable anger within Fine Gael about the situation as the circumstances surrounding Mr Conway’s arrest were not disclosed to the party. A source said the disciplinary process had begun, and could take a number of months to come to a conclusion. A hearing committee could consider the matter, with a number of possible sanctions.
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Under Fine Gael rules if a complaint is considered by a hearing committee, and that complaint is proven to the committee’s satisfaction, there are four main avenues open.
The first is that the member could be suspended from all rights and privileges of the membership of the party for a fixed period. The second is expulsion from the party. The third involves fines and the fourth involves censure, admonishment or advice.
In a statement released by Fine Gael this weekend, which followed a report in the Sunday Independent, Mr Conway said he wanted to apologise to family, colleagues, supporters and his nominating body Vision Ireland.
“I would like to apologise unreservedly for this to my family, colleagues, supporters and my nominating body Vision Ireland. I let myself down. I would also like to apologise to the members of An Garda Síochána for having to deal with this matter.”
In a statement Fine Gael said the matter was subject to party disciplinary process.
A spokesman for Vision Ireland declined to comment when contacted on Monday.
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