Beverley Flynn's future depends on the party's National Executive, writes Mark Hennessy
Despite all of the tribunals, court cases and tax issues over the last few years, it is bordering upon the bizarrely humorous to realise that Mr Des O'Malley is the last major party figure to have been expelled from Fianna Fáil.
Despite several periods in jail, Mr Liam Lawlor was never expelled from the Soldiers of Destiny - he resigned on his own initiative. Former Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Ray Burke, was not expelled either.
Limerick West TD, Mr Michael Collins, paid €130,000 early last year to the Revenue Commissioners in back taxes and penalties built up since the 1980s. He resigned from the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party, yet he remains a member of the party. Former Kerry North TD, Mr Denis Foley, stayed in the party fold even after he was "outed" as an Ansbacher account holder.
The starkly different treatment being meted out by the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, to Ms Flynn has been noted by her colleagues in the parliamentary party and elsewhere in the organisation. The determination to be rid of Ms Flynn from the membership of the party is causing concern within the parliamentary party, even among those who accept fully that she cannot hold the party whip.
"We have had other people in difficulties and they were not thrown out. What is good for one should be good for all," one unhappy TD complained to The Irish Times.
Another member of the parliamentary party agreed: "Losing the whip is one thing. She shouldn't be treated differently. I would be happy to know why she has to be kicked out of the party altogether."
The 95-strong National Executive will meet next Friday to consider the motion from the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, though some members are openly doubtful about the course.
"Unlike other leaders, Bertie is democratic. He throws matters out on the floor for debate. There have been other leaders who have sent matters in signed, sealed and delivered," said one member.
"Personally, I think this is wrong. She wasn't a public representative when this happened. She was taking orders from the bank," a national executive member said, on condition of anonymity. "There are Fianna Fáil people involved in tribunals for years who have never been expelled from the party. What they did, they did for personal gain."
Others, however, are far less sympathetic. Cork North Central constituency Executive delegate, Mr David Whyte, was blunt: "Certainly, I think she should go. I don't think that we should even have to travel to Dublin to deal with this. She should go. We were prepared to give her the benefit of the doubt, but that has gone. It is no good saying that she was following orders from the bank. Everybody over 18 is over the age of majority. We know wrong from right. Certainly, the bank got off lightly."
A local election candidate, Mr Whyte drew a distinction between Ms Flynn's case and those of Mr Collins and, even, Mr Lawlor.
"Michael Collins paid his dues. Liam Lawlor did not take a libel action. His case before the tribunal is still going on. If she had kept her head down and said nothing she could have weathered the storm," he told The Irish Times.
Ógra Fianna Fáil Executive representative, Mr Fearghail Wall, said: "If there is a motion calling for her expulsion then I, for one, will support it."