Coalition party votes to wind up

PDs leader Senator Ciaran Cannon with Mary Harney

The Progressive Democrats, the junior party in Ireland's coalition government, is to wind up after 23 years.

At a special conference on Saturday delegates voted by 201 to 161 against a motion to keep the party going.

The party was decimated in the general election last year, returning just two TDs including Mary Harney, health minister in the current government.

Ms Harney said she would remain as an independent member of Dáil Éireann.

The Progressive Democrats were founded in 1985, mainly by Fianna Fail TDs opposed to Charles Haughey.

A disastrous general election for the party saw it lose six of its eight seats.

Among those who lost their seats were the party leader, deputy leader and president.