It was in the hands of Dublin now, said Mr George O'Malley, chairman of Mayo Fianna Fail Dail Ceanntair, when asked about the fate of Ms Beverley Cooper-Flynn.
He added that the foot-and-mouth crisis had prevented the party from holding a Dail ceanntair meeting since the TD started her libel trial.
He said the next meeting for the party in Mayo would be at the end of the month.
Ms Cooper-Flynn, who has just returned from a holiday with her parents, is due to meet members of the Fianna Fail parliamentary party within the next few days.
A senior party source in Castlebar said: "When they [parliamentary party] come knocking on your door, it is not a good omen." While acknowledging that it was a sensitive situation, and most people were "genuinely sad" over the outcome of the case, the source said: "If Beverley does not make up her mind, it will be made up for her.
"Financially, career-wise and from a family perspective, she needs to examine her future.
"No one likes to kick someone when they are down, even though she is the author of her own misfortune in some respects. It is a long, hard decision."
Asked about the mood in the party, Mr O'Malley said the party in Castlebar had not formally discussed the court case.
"We will all take one day at a time. There are several options. Will she resign? Will she be asked to resign? Will she leave altogether? Will she become an Independent?"
Asked about options facing the party in Mayo for the next election, Mr O'Malley said that would have to be discussed "from Dublin down".
Castlebar UDC councillor Mr Aidan Crowley, a solicitor with a local practice, is the person in the best position should another name be added to the party ticket. He is seen as a loyal Cooper-Flynn supporter who would not allow his name to go forward unless and until her future was guaranteed to be outside politics.
Other names include Cllr Al McDonnell, Mr Iarla Duffy, a member of the party's national executive, and Cllr Sean Burke.