He resigned on 8 May 1970, just two days after the resignation of the Minister for Local Government, Kevin Boland, and the sacking of Neil Blaney and Charles Haughey as ministers at the outbreak of the Arms Crisis.
On May 8, 1970, he left office shortly after Kevin Boland, the Minister for Local Government, resigned and Neil Blaney and Charles Haughey were dismissed from their ministerial roles during the Arms Crisis.