Galway city councillor Owen Hanley has resigned over allegations made about him over recent days.

In a Facebook post, the Social Democrat councillor states:

In the past 48 hours certain allegations have been made about me. These are very serious matters and will obviously take a considerable length of time to be investigated fully by the appropriate authorities.

In these circumstances I believe that the correct thing for me to do is to resign my membership of Galway City Council.

I don't propose to make any further comment in relation to the matter.

In a statement this afternoon, the Social Democrats say when the party first learned of the allegations, the whip was removed and councillor Owen Hanley has now resigned from the party.