Seamus O'Neill, who has resigned his Meath County Council seat, and his partner, Sharon Keogan, who is expected to be co-opted to replace him.

Meath County councillor Seamus O'Neill has this week confirmed his resignation from the council. It is expected that he will nominate his partner, Sharon Keogan, to be co-opted to his seat from early next month

Mr O'Neill cited pressure of business - he is both a publican and undertaker in Duleek - as his reason for leaving the council. He was elected to Meath County Council in the local elections of June 2009 where he represented the Slane electoral area as an independent.

His is the third resignation from the council in the current session - Councillors Ray Butler and Regina Doherty of Fine Gael both resigned their seats on election to the Dáil in early 2011.

Mr O'Neill said this week that since his election in June 2009, he had always given 100 per cent commitment to the job he was elected to do for the people of Meath and the Slane electoral area.

"As people know, my business is a publican and an undertaker with 20 employees. As everyone knows, these are challenging times for all businesses. I have found it extremely hard to manage all aspects of my work commitments as well as fulfilling my role as a councillor. I cannot, therefore, give the people of Meath the required commitment needed at this time," he said in a statement issued this week.

To read the full story see this week's Meath Chronicle.