The Chairman of IT Tralee Flan Garvey is to step down from the role in just over two months time.
The shock decision comes just a fortnight after the Former Mayor of Clare insisted he would remain on in the role until the end of his term in 2016 after he was cleared of any wrong doing regarding his thesis.
The Institute of Technology found parts of his study of the history of his native parish of Inagh/ Kilnamona were copied from another writer but but not intentionally.
Flan Garvey said he was fully vindicated by the investigation but in a statement today – the college stated he subsequently informed them of his decision to resign as charman as of July 31st.