ON THE night when Michael Lowry finally left the Fine Gael party. John Bruton, his "best friend, best friend forever", issued a cold, clinical, severance notice making it clear that the former minister for transport, energy and communications did not jump - he was pushed.

With a general election only months away, and a sworn public inquiry into Ben Dunne's financial dealings with politicians due to start under Mr Justice Brian McCracken, Fine Gael had to take out insurance.

For months, the rumour machine at Leinster House has cranked out the message that Mr Lowry would be denied a Fine Gael nomination in North Tipperary, even if he came through a local selection convention. The sharp-faced men in grey suits could not risk the kind of damage to the party's image that Mr Lowry's appearance before the tribunal might cause. Whatever about picking up a seat in Tipperary, the party would probably bleed votes across the State.

Mr Lowry's expected high profile at the Tribunal might divert public attention from, or muddy the waters around, the £1.1 million received by Mr You-Know-Who. It would allow Mary Harney and the PDs to shower ordure on Fine Gael from the moral high ground.

There was nothing personal in Mr Bruton's action. It was politics, just politics. The party always comes before the individual. People are chopped away when they threaten the stability or the prospects of a government. And, if you read the Taoiseach's statement closely, the door to future membership of Fine Gael has been left ajar.

In the statement, Mr Bruton recalled he had told the North Tipperary TD on February 5th he would not be able to recommend his ratification as a candidate "unless his outstanding tax matters had been brought to a conclusion". Mr Lowry, he went on, "fully understands and accepts my decision and he has agreed to relinquish his membership of Fine Gael".

Given the reported complications of Mr Lowry's tax affairs, it was the equivalent to putting a gun to his head. He could go with dignity, without burning his political bridges, or he could fight a pointless battle he must lose. Because the ultimatum was based on the status of Mr Lowry's tax affairs, it is possible he may rejoin the party after he makes peace with the Revenue Commissioners.

BEFORE, or if ever, that happens, Mr Lowry has a few hills to climb. He is determined to serve the people of his constituency with "continued commitment and vigour" during the life of this Dail. He will almost certainly offer himself as an independent candidate in the general election, following consultation with supporters and friends. As a man down on his luck, with continuing strong support from elements within the Fine Gael party, he should skate home.

His colleagues in Fine Gael greeted his resignation with relief. Nothing personal, of course. But as his political star moved towards its nadir, their memories of the important contributions he had made to the party blurred and ran. He was now a liability. Next business.

Mr Lowry, who had worked magic as Fine Gael's key fundraiser, played a pivotal role in protecting the leadership of John Bruton and helped Fine Gael into Government, was in free fall.

It all began to go desperately wrong in the summer of 1995. It was then that the former minister alleged that a "cosy cartel", linked to Fianna Fail, had been ripping off the semi-state companies. He himself had been followed and intimidated others had been threatened; it was the Tuffy affair. Mr Lowry was lucky to escape with a badly injured political reputation,

Then, last summer, details of payments made by Ben Dunne in connection with his business and his family home in Thurles blew his career to pieces. Within days of the financial irregularities becoming known, he was forced to resign as a minister. But it did not stop there.

The Progressive Democrats and Fianna Fail were in full cry. A 20-minute personal statement to the Dail in December failed to stem the torrent and the controversy spilled over to embrace other parties. The Buchanan investigation followed and then the McCracken inquiry was set in train.

IN THE meantime, Mr Lowry was invited to resign as a trustee of Fine Gael. He did so in January but, with his financial affairs in disarray, he was loath to relinquish his Dail position. He persevered in his determination to seek a Fine Gael nomination. That door was finally closed yesterday when Mr Lowry failed to meet the end of February deadline given to him by the Taoiseach. Mr Bruton observed that his tax affairs were unlikely to be put in order for "some time".

Being in trouble with the Revenue Commissioners is not always regarded as a mortal sin in rural areas. For many people it is a simple fact of life. And, judging by the recent support he has received, the people of Tipperary may give him another chance. It has been a long, long, fall for Michael Lowry. But the final landing may be soft.