The Sinn Féin cumann in Antrim town will tomorrow hold a press conference alleging the party has abandoned nationalists in the town. In the past week, the entire local cumann resigned en masse from the party.
The rift between the local cumann and the party - including the two local borough councillors, Mr Martin Meehan and Mr Martin McManus - comes amid continuing intimidation of Catholics in the predominantly Protestant town.
Locals say close to 40 families have been forced out of their homes in the past months. Intimidation by loyalists is said to be centred on the Rathenraw estate and the town centre.
The chairman of the Rathenraw Community Association and, until recently, chairman of the local Sinn Féin cumann, Mr Paddy Murray, says the nationalist residents of Antrim feel "totally let down" by the party.
A former republican prisoner, Mr Anthony McIntyre, said there was a sense that rather than confront those thought to be behind the intimidation - the UDA, its youth wing the Ulster Young Militants, and the LVF - the party leadership would like nationalists to "keep a low profile" and "put up with it".Sinn Féin denied the accusation.