Taoiseach Simon Harris says he does not know why Fine Gael ...

Former Fine Gael councillor Patsy O’Brien was suspended from the party when a complaint was made against him in March 2020.

He was expelled in October of the same year after an internal Fine Gael disciplinary investigation. Fine Gael and Mr O’Brien have refused to say why he was expelled from the party.

Speaking at a campaign event in Dublin, Taoiseach Simon Harris said he was “unaware” of the reasons behind Mr O’Brien’s expulsion from Fine Gael.

However, when pushed for further details, the Fine Gael leader said: “I believe there was a disciplinary issue in Mayo, I’m not across the details of it and that person was expelled from the party. It predates my time as leader.”

Mr Harris said he will find out more information from his party officials.

“We have standards in relation to who can and can't be a member of our party, and it was deemed inappropriate for that councillor to continue as a member of our party. I don't have any more information. I can see in my party headquarters can provide it,” he added.

Fine Gael has received several requests for comment from the Irish Independent about the reasons behind Mr O’Brien’s expulsion from Fine Gael but has refused to say what was behind the decision.

When contacted today and asked if he wished to detail why he was expelled from Fine Gael, Mr O’Brien said: “No comment.”

Mr Harris and Fine Gael were very strong in their condemnation of Sinn Féin when Mary Lou McDonald’s party was besieged by a series of resignations in the lead-up to the election.

There is no suggestion that Mr O’Brien’s expulsion was in any way similar to those expelled by Sinn Féin.

Mr O’Brien topped the poll in the Claremorris electoral area with 20pc of the vote and is tipped to be in the fight for a seat in the Mayo constituency.

Before the local election in June, Fine Gael headquarters was forced to send a “letter of comfort” to candidates over fears Mr O’Brien was set to rejoin the party.

There were fears in the Claremorris Fine Gael branch that the expelled councillor would return to the party after or even before the June vote.

Fine Gael general secretary John Carroll wrote to members confirming the party ticket for the Claremorris electoral area.

Mr Carroll said Fine Gael selected three candidates for the local electoral area and would not be adding anyone else before or after the election.