Sinn Féin has been carrying out a 'root and branch review' of its party structures in Cork
It has been reported that dozens of Sinn Féin members in County Cork have resigned in protest at the party's treatment of two county councillors.
Sinn Féin expelled Kieran McCarthy and suspended Melissa Mullane for year after an internal "review".
A statement, claiming to represent a Sinn Féin cumann (society) in Cobh, said 54 members have resigned over it.
But Sinn Féin's Jonathan O'Brien, who chaired the review, said the Cobh cumann had been stood down in February.
'Root and branch review'
He also said that the party had not yet received formal resignations from members in Cobh, and said each would be required to submitted their intentions in writing.
He said he was aware of five resignations of individual members in the nearby Fermoy cumann on Tuesday evening.
Mr O'Brien is a member of parliament (TD) for the Cork North Central constituency.
He told the BBC that the Cobh cumann and the Fermoy cumann were among seven Sinn Féin branches in East Cork that were stood down in February during a "root and branch" reorganisation of party structures in the constituency.
He would not comment on the reasons for Mr McCarthy's expulsion from Sinn Féin, other than to say that the party expects members to "adhere to certain standards".
The BBC has contacted Mr McCarthy for a comment but has not yet received a response.
