Members of a Fianna Fáil cumann in Co Mayo are to meet on Monday to agree on what action to take after the party's executive decided to dissolve the cumann over a controversy involving TD Beverley Flynn, who was expelled from the party.
As Fianna Fáil accused members of the Mícheál Ó Moráin cumann in Castlebar of trying to undermine the party by continuing a close association with the TD, members of the cumann claimed the party had given no indication their cumann was being disbanded.
They also said the cumann would not be disbanding, despite the unanimous decision by Fianna Fáil's national executive. The cumann, which claims to have more than 160 members, is the stronghold of the Flynn family in Castlebar, and both Ms Flynn and her father have been members.
Cumann spokesman John Hamrock said members had heard about the disbanding on radio yesterday morning.
"We consider that very poor form," said Mr Hamrock, whose daughter works for Ms Flynn. "We don't know what we have done . . . that could be considered disloyal to Fianna Fáil." He claimed the cumann was "condemned without a trial".
He said members would consider "every option", including legal action.
Mr Hamrock insisted the cumann would not disband. "Certainly, we're not like the Solpadeine table you put in a glass and it goes away."
Yesterday Ms Flynn claimed a report on the reorganisation of the party in Mayo by Minister for Communications Noel Dempsey recommended a suspension of the cumann. She also claimed she had not been involved in the cumann since last September, when she was invited to address members.
She described the disbandment of the cumann as "an extraordinary step, a step too far, against ordinary people".
Yesterday a spokeswoman for Fianna Fáil rejected this, and said the decision was unconnected to the Dempsey report.
She said it was solely to do with theFlynn issue, and what she said was an ongoing influence over the cumann by Ms Flynn for her own political purposes.
"Since Beverley Cooper Flynn was expelled from the party last May there has been a disruptive element within this cumann which has been attempting to undermine the organisation and that issue had to be addressed."
Fianna Fáil is writing to all members to tell them of the decision.