A Sinn Féin TD in Cork says she is not standing in the general election - blaming her decision on the actions of a group of local party activists.

Cork East Deputy, Sandra McLellan says her work has been persistently undermined by a small number of Sinn Féin members in the constituency.

In a statement on her Facebook page, she wrote "over the period I have served as a TD my efforts were consistently and persistently undermined by a small number in the constituency that called themselves members of Sinn Fein. I am not prepared to risk this for another term.

Deputy McLellan adds that she hopes the next party candidate in the area "will not have the same negative experience that I had at the hands of these individuals".

The Sinn Féin organisation in the constituency has already been at the centre of controversy this year.

Last June, one of its local councillors was expelled from the party and another suspended following an internal inquiry.