THE small pro-family party, Muintir na hEireann, has expelled Mr Richard Greene as its leader and ousted him from the party.
The party, which has also renamed itself as the People of Ireland Party (Muintir na hEireann), has appointed Mr Fintan Dunne as its leader and Ms Rosemary Kavanagh as its chairwoman, according to Mr Dunne.
Mr Greene, who co-founded the party with Ms Kavanagh in 1992, is a councillor in Dun Laoghaire/ Rathdown. He was expelled from Fianna Fail in December 1988, over his anti-extradition views. He then joined the Green Party, from which he said he resigned in April 1992.
The move to expel Mr Greene, follows a decision by, the Dail's registrar of political parties, Mr Kieran Coughlan, that Mr Greene is no longer a recognised officer of the party. This means he cannot authorise election candidates for the party.
Mr Coughlan made his decision this week after a six-week investigation into the party's official Dail registration. Mr Coughlan's office issued a statement yesterday confirming that the party's registration had been altered.
The investigation followed a recent split in the party between two factions, with Mr Greene in one camp and Mr Dunne and Ms Kavanagh in the other.
Mr Greene claimed to Mr Coughlan that he was the officer authorised to authenticate election candidates, along with national executive members Mr Kevin Caulfield and Ms Lelia O'Flaherty. Ms Kavanagh counter-claimed that she and five others, including Mr Dunne, were the true authorised officers.
Disagreements in the party came to a head at a meeting of the party's executive last December, at which Mr Dunne claimed Mr Greene was expelled. Mr Greene denied this and Mr Coughlan's investigation followed.
A statement issued by Mr Dunne yesterday said the party executive had confirmed its December decision to, expel Mr Greene. "He is not a member and will not be a candidate in the election. We regret that Mr Greene brought this, upon himself by his intemperate action".
Mr Greene said last night that Mr Dunne, by saying he was a spokesperson for Muintir na hEireann, was in breach of company legislation because Muintir Na hEireann was a company limited by guarantee. He said Mr Coughlan had "no right" to intervene in an internal party dispute under the Electoral Act 1992. He was taking legal advice.
Mr Greene said Muintir na hEireann was fielding seven candidates in the election. The party throughout the country supported his leadership.