By C.J. McGinley

THE Green Party has claimed a breakaway group in Donegal is invalid.

A spokesman told the Donegal News, "there are serious question marks over the validity of a meeting in Letterkenny that resulted in a split and also the membership of those present". He said appropriate action would be taken.

The party spokesman was speaking after Green Party members in Donegal voted to go independent. However, the sormer secretary of the Green Party in Donegal, Mr Frank Gallagher, has claimed disillusioned local members were left with no other alternative but to split from the party following a '"litany of sell outs and abandonment of principles".

Mr Gallagher, a former town councillor in Letterkenny, said now the new group was the "legitimate" source of the Green movement in the county. He hoped the move would be followed by other units of the organisation around the country, particularly in the west of Ireland.

"We're going to put clear blue water between us. We also agreed to try to set up a Council of the West of Alternative Greens. Of the 50 members of the party, 34 turned up to an emergency general meeting in The Ramada Hotel, Letterkenny, with 91 per vote in favour of leaving the party," he added.

Mr Gallagher said there may still be "a rump" of members attached to the national party but said local members had no other alternative but to cut themselves of from the new styled Green Party and return to their grass roots.