Sheehan 'Embarrassment' Says Kenny

Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny has called the incident involving PJ Sheehan as an "embarrassment to the party".

Yesterday, Cork South West TD PJ Sheehan resigned from the party after levelling drunken abuse at a female Garda last July. He made the announcement after a meeting with the Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny on Tuesday morning.

Speaking at the National Ploughing Championships yesterday, the Fine Gael leader said he had only recently been fully briefed on the details of the incident between Mr Sheehan and the garda that took place at the Dáil. Mr Kenny said what happened was completely out of character for PJ Sheehan and that the party would now move on from the issue.

TD Sheehan was reported to have threatened a female garda after she prevented him from driving as he left the Dáil's last session before the summer recess.

Speaking this yesterday morning, Mr Sheehan said: "Following a discussion today with Fine Gael Leader Enda Kenny TD, I have tendered my resignation as Deputy Spokesperson on Agriculture with Special Responsibility for Forestry, with immediate effect.

"I have advised the Party Leader that I do not want to be considered for any other position."

Despite resigning from the party, Mr Sheehan said that he would continue to "work diligently" on behalf of his constituents in Cork South West.

The female garda originally said that, at 1am on July 8, Mr Sheehan was very intoxicated as he approached his car outside Leinster House. After she approached him, the garda said Mr Sheenan threatened that her actions would damage her future career.

On Sunday night, the long-serving TD expressed his regret at the "embarrassment" he caused to his party, constituents and family.

At the beginning of the week. Mr Sheehan said he wished to offer "a full and unreserved apology for my behaviour on July 8 in the environs of Leinster House".

"This behaviour was totally out of character in my 30 years in politics. In particular, I offer my deepest apologies to the gardai on duty that night, who were carrying out their duty in exemplary fashion," he said.

He added: "I also deeply regret the embarrassment this incident has caused the Fine Gael Party, its leader, my colleagues in the party, my constituents in Cork South-West and my wife and family. I intend writing a letter in the morning expressing my deep personal apologies and regrets to the gardai in question."

The incident happened last July, but his apology came last night in the wake of an outpouring of controversy over Brian Cowen's allegedly drunk or hungover interview on Morning Ireland last week.

The resignation is believed to be part of a Fine Gael clamp down on such behaviours after the party's vehement criticism of Brian Cowen over last weeks interviews.

(DW/GK)