Former Sinn Féin Senator Niall Ó Donnghaile has revealed he is the person who was suspended from Sinn Féin over the texting of inappropriate messages to a 17 year old member of the Party’s youth section, Ógra Shinn Féin.
In a statement published by the Irish News, Mr Ó Donnghaile said he accepted his behaviour warranted stepping down and apologised for his behaviour.
“I also accept that I have caused great embarrassment to myself, my family, friends and former colleagues – this was never my intention,” he said.
“Since resigning from political and public life almost a year ago and now as a private citizen, my main focus has been on improving my mental health and also supporting a relative through a challenging period of ill-health – this remains my priority and I ask that I and all those concerned are allowed to move on, with our privacy respected.”
The Senator who was Mayor of Belfast in 2011 and 2012 was suspended from Sinn Féin in September 2023 and has since formally resigned from the party. The Cathaoirleach of An Seanad, Jerry Buttimer, announced on January 22 last that he had received formal notice that Ó Donnghaile had resigned from the upper chamber. In December the former Senator had told the media that he intended to resign for reasons of health.
Last weekend, it was confirmed that Ó Donnghaile had also resigned from Sinn Féin. The matter had been referred to both the PSNI and to the Northern Ireland health services but no criminal charges have so far been pressed.
The naming of the former Belfast Mayor adds to a growing list of scandals that have afflicted Sinn Féin in recent weeks following the apparent failures to properly report and to deal with former press office Michael McMonagle who had been arrested, charged and later pleaded guilty to sexual offences involving a child.
The manner in which McMonagle was later given a reference for a position which he obtained with the British Heart Foundation is the most serious aspect of the events which were under discussion in the Dáil this afternoon.