Donegal Green Party councillor Florence McNulty yesterday resigned from the party following a theft conviction. The Bundoran town council member offered her resignation following two conversations with the Greens' general secretary, Donall Geoghegan.
Those phone talks took place within hours of her being found guilty of stealing a €280 ladies' trouser suit from Ballyshannon Post Office on October 6th last.
There was no indication that Ms McNulty had resigned her council seat.
A statement from the Greens said Ms McNulty expected to clear her name either at a sentencing hearing on September 1st or via a later appeal.
But to save the party embarrassment her resignation had been accepted "until the matter is fully resolved".
Judge Mary Devins yesterday deferred sentence pending medical reports.
She said she couldn't ignore "the somewhat irrational circumstances" surrounding the return of the suit with false labels to gardaí five weeks later.