A SINN Féin senator last night resigned from the party over what he described as "inaction" in dealing with disciplinary issues in his constituency.
Trevor Ó Clochartaigh claimed there were serious breaches of the Sinn Féin code of conduct in his Galway West constituency and that those breaches were "going unpunished".
He also said there had been "unacceptable behaviour" against him.
Mr Ó Clochartaigh is the latest of a growing number of Sinn Féin members who have left the party over allegations of bullying, intimidation and misconduct.
A Sinn Féin spokesman said members were "extremely surprised" by Mr Ó Clochartaigh's decision ahead of the party's selection convention in Galway West/South Mayo this weekend.
"It is clear that Trevor was worried that a democratic vote of party members in the constituency would not select him to contest the election," he said.
"It is clear that Trevor was looking for a clear run at convention and the party wasn't prepared to bypass our democratic structures to allow for that.
"Given he was arguing just yesterday for a two candidate strategy which he would have been happy to be part of, we are extremely surprised at his decision to leave the party today."
