Fianna Fail's Director of Elections steps down amidst reports of child abuse allegations

Pat Carey has stepped down as Fianna Fáil's director of elections, following reports that a former minister is facing child abuse allegations, the Irish Independent reports.

Mr Carey issued a statement through his solicitors last night, in which he said he did not know whether he is the former minister at the centre of the claims, but said he was aware of "rumour and innuendo".

"He absolutely and unconditionally denies any impropriety in this matter or in his 30 years' experience as a teacher, as a community worker and in his public life," the statement said.

A number of people have given statements to gardaí, claiming that they were abused in the early 1990s.

The news has sent shockwaves through Fianna Fáil, which just last month appointed Mr Carey as its director of elections for the forthcoming General Election.

The Kerry native was a TD for Dublin North West from 1997 to 2011 and served as government chief whip from 2008, before becoming minister for community, equality and Gaeltacht affairs in 2010.

In the dying days of Brian Cowen's government, he also served as minister for transport, as well as minister for communications, energy and natural resources.

More recently, the 68-year-old played a key role in the marriage referendum, during which he came out publicly as a gay man.

The statement released by Eames Solicitors in Dublin described Mr Carey as a "respected person and entitled to his good name".