A Fianna Fáil councillor being investigated as part of a sexual assault investigation has resigned from the party.
A statement from Fianna Fáil said the councillor had written to the party's headquarters agreeing to resign the party whip on both county council and town council, pending the completion of the process and without prejudice to his position.
The councillor is at the centre of a garda investigation into an alleged sexual assault on a 16-year-old boy in Killarney.
The councillor, who is not from Kerry, was visiting Killarney on business when the incident is alleged to have occurred.
In a statement to RTÉ News issued through his solicitor, the councillor said he had co-operated fully with gardaí when he was questioned. He said he denied the allegation of sexual assault when questioned by detectives and continues to deny it.
He said he was confident his name would be cleared.
The councillor at the centre of the investigation is a prominent politician who has been involved in public life for more than 20 years, contesting several local elections.
He is also a director of a number of public bodies and he has been chairman of others.
Last Wednesday night, the councillor was staying in a hotel in Killarney, while on a visit to the town on business related to his public role.
It is alleged a 16-year-old worker at the hotel was sexually assaulted after being invited to the councillor's hotel room.
The boy was in the councillor's room for around 15 minutes. It is understood the boy made a number of attempts to leave the room but was prevented from doing so. He complained to his supervisor a short time later and management at the hotel contacted gardaí.
The councillor was arrested the following morning on suspicion of sexual assault and was bought to Killarney Garda Station where he was detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act.
He was questioned by detectives for around five hours and was released without charge.
Gardaí are now preparing a file for the Director of Public Prosecutions.
