An entire branch of Sinn Féin has resigned from the party after the expulsion of one of its councillors.

The entire membership of the branch in Fermoy has quit, after the expulsion of Kieran McCarthy and suspension of Melissa Mullane.

In a statement the Fermoy members said they held both of the councillors in high personal regard and could not accept what they saw as their "undemocratic" removal from Sinn Féin.

The party has refused to comment on the reasons for the disciplinary measures, but says they are not related to the next election.

According to Sinn Féin, the actions follow a review of the party's structures in the constituency of East Cork.

The party says those involved "were given the reasons for the decisions" at a meeting in Cork earlier this week, and will have 21 days to appeal the decision

Mr McCarthy says he was not told the reason for his expulsion.

Speaking to Newstalk Lunchtime yesterday, he said: "Part of the review took on board another investigation that had been, in our opinion, resolved satisfactorily, we were told it wasn't and there was other stuff uncovered".

"They refused to give me the information," he added.

Councillors McCarthy and Mullane had both expressed an interest in running in the next general election, and were pushing for the party to run two candidates in Cork East.

The party already has one TD - Sandra McLellan - in the four-seater constituency.