Fine Gael Councillor Therese Ridge has confirmed that she has lodged an appeal against the removal of the party whip and potential expulsion.
The whip was taken from the Dublin representative following a hearing by the Fine Gael disciplinary committee last month.
Her action means the decision of the committee is suspended pending the hearing of the appeal.
A member of South Dublin County Council, Ms Ridge was the subject of an adverse finding in the Mahon Tribunal Report last March.
The report found she had accepted £1,000 in election funding in 1992 from lobbyist Frank Dunlop.
Dublin South TD Olivia Mitchell was also the subject of an adverse finding in the report over a £500 donation from the same source. Ms Mitchell was exonerated by Fine Gael's disciplinary committee.
Speaking on Today with Pat Kenny, Cllr Ridge said she supported Quarryvale because it was the best thing for her constituents at the time.
She said there were no rules before 1997 on declaring donations, and at the time she had been very grateful to get the money from Frank Dunlop to support her election efforts.
Cllr Ridge said a previous inquiry by Fine Gael had cleared her of wrongdoing, and believes the outcome of the most recent inquiry was "almost unbelievable".
She said she got a "chilly feeling" when she read newspaper reports that Deputy Mitchell might resign her seat and cause a by-election if Fine Gael found against her. Cllr Ridge said she suspected then that for political reasons she would be the one to be “scapegoated”.
"A lot of people think same as myself from the mail and the support I am getting," she said.
"It looks like different strokes for different folks. I am pondering as to what I will do because I am desperately hurt and dreadfully upset. And, at the same time, I was always a fighter - that's why I'm appealing."
