A PROMINENT Inverclyde councillor who is facing criminal proceedings has received the full support of his party while a report is prepared for prosecutors.

Alba's Chris McEleny has been charged by police following an alleged disturbance in Greenock which is said to have occurred only hours after he took part in a protest at first minister Nicola Sturgeon's official residence in Edinburgh.

Party chiefs moved quickly yesterday to rally behind their general secretary after the Telegraph contacted them.

An Alba spokesman said: "No comment is ever made on any matter subject to live police investigation.

"Councillor McEleny had previously informed us of the circumstances and [he] is neither suspended from the Inverclyde Council Group nor the Party."

The Tele understands that Mr McEleny, 35, went voluntarily to Greenock police office accompanied by his lawyer after officers contacted him regarding an alleged incident on Kelly Street.

What has been described by police as a 'full report' on the matter is to be sent to the procurator fiscal, it has been confirmed.

Councillor McEleny — a close ally of former first minister Alex Salmond — was not available yesterday when the Telegraph attempted to contact him.

His father, Jim McEleny — the Alba group leader within Inverclyde Council — was also remaining tight-lipped on the matter yesterday, saying he had no comment to add.

Former SNP group leader on the council, Councillor McEleny defected to join Alba earlier this year and stood unsuccessfully for election at the Scottish parliamentary election in May.

He was part of a protest outside the first minister's Bute House residence on September 24, demanding that all future Caledonian MacBrayne ferries be built at the nationalised Ferguson Marine shipyard in Port Glasgow.

Councillor McEleny was joined at the demonstration by his father and the former SNP justice secretary, and now Alba deputy leader, Kenny MacAskill.

It is alleged that he committed a breach of the peace on Kelly Street after returning to Inverclyde.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "A 35-year-old man has been charged in connection with a disturbance that took place in Kelly Street, Greenock on Sunday September 26.

"A full report will be forwarded to the procurator fiscal."

A spokesperson for Inverclyde Council said: "It would be inappropriate for us to comment on a live police investigation."