Get the violins and tissues out – Senator Ivor Callely has left Fianna Fáil. He has resigned because the FF committee investigating him would not ‘particularize’ his conduct unbecoming a party member. Well the solicitors who issued the statement won’t win plain english awards – or maybe it’s Ivor’s version of refudiate! He has a history of a particular way with words alright!.

This of course is not Senator Callely leaving the Seanad and he can’t be thrown out no matter what the Seanad members interests committee decide to do with him.

The statement was issued through his solicitors:

“It is with deep regret that Senator Callely has resigned from the Fianna Fail party with immediate effect.

Senator Callely’s resignation arose following a refusal of the Fianna Fail Committee on inquiry to grant an adjournment on his legal Counsel’s application for the purposes of refuting the allegations
made against him and because of the refusal of the Committee to particularize alleged conduct ‘unbecoming a member’ of the Fianna Fail party.

Senator Callely considers the Committee’s findings as constituting a denial of fair procedures to allow him to vindicate his name and refute the allegations made against him.

After Senator Callely’s dedication to the Fianna Fáil party in public life over a period of 25 years, he is ádevastated at the refusal to accord him fair procedures which makes his resignation inevitable because to have acted otherwise would have afforded legitimacy to an enquiry that denied him fair procedures.

Senator Callely will now concentrate on clearing his name before the Seanad Select Committee and will be making no further statement at this time.