Mary Lou McDonald.(Image: PA Wire/PA Images)

Mary Lou McDonald accused of 'elaborate cover-up' over Niall Ó Donnghaile resignation

Rather than revealing that Belfast man Mr Ó Donnghaile had been suspended from the party and an incident referred to the PSNI, Ms McDonald published a “glowing statement” thanking the Senator for his work and wishing him good health, the Dáil heard on Tuesday

15 Oct 2024, 19:50 by Louise Burne · Irish Mirror

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald has been accused of “misleading the Oireachtas” and facilitating an “elaborate coverup” for failing to disclose that Senator Niall Ó Donnghaile stood down after sending “inappropriate text messages to a 17-year-old”.

Rather than revealing that Belfast man Mr Ó Donnghaile had been suspended from the party and an incident referred to the PSNI, Ms McDonald published a “glowing statement” thanking the Senator for his work and wishing him good health.

However, Ms McDonald defended not divulging revealing details about the texts, stating that Mr Ó Donnghaile was “suffering from a mental health crisis”.

Ms McDonald is now under sustained pressure as several controversies and new revelations continue to engulf the party on the brink of a general election.

A story published by the Irish Independent last Saturday stated that a Sinn Féin party member had been suspended in September 2023 as part of an investigation into “inappropriate texts” being sent to a 17-year-old.

In a statement on Tuesday afternoon, Mr Ó Donnghaile confirmed that he was the member in question.

“Over a year ago, I sent inappropriate messages which, in consultation with the party, I accept warranted my stepping down from my role as a Senator and Sinn Féin member,” he said.

“At the time I made myself available to the PSNI, at no stage was I spoken to by them or any other agency. The PSNI confirmed that no offences had occurred.”

During statements on Child Protection in the Dáil, Ms McDonald said that a party councillor “received a complaint that an inappropriate message had been sent by Niall Ó Donnghaile to a 17-year-old male party member” on September 11, 2023.

“The young man wanted this to stop and he wanted no further contact to be made to him by Niall Ó Donnghaile,” she said.

“On September 12, the chairperson of Belfast Sinn Féin was informed of the complaint and so began the formal party procedure.

“As part of the party's inquiry at the time, we were informed of a second individual receiving inappropriate text messages from Niall Ó Donnghaile. This person was an adult. He was advised of his right to make a formal complaint, but he chose not to.”

Mr Ó Donnghaile was suspended from the party on September 13 and the issue was referred to the PSNI and social services in Northern Ireland.

On September 27 2023, the PSNI informed the party that there was an “agreed joint investigation between the PSNI and social services” but “no formal investigation followed”.

Ms McDonald added: “There was no finding of illegality and no criminal charges were pursued.”

Mr Ó Donnghaile resigned from “Seanad and the party” at a meeting on October 5. However, his resignation as Leader of the Seanad was not announced by the Sinn Féin press office until December 21.

This included a statement from Ms McDonald saying that he had “served diligently” and that she hoped he could “overcome the health challenges”.

Ms McDonald said the Oireachtas was not informed of the circumstances of Mr Ó Donnghaile’s resignation because he was “suffering from a mental health crisis”, and the party was “worried that publicly naming him would be dangerous to his health”.

In a statement, Tánaiste Micheál Martin accused Ms McDonald of “misleading the Oireachtas” as he said the “revelations” about Mr Ó Donnghaile “raise serious and fundamental questions about the party and its governance”.

“When party leader Mary Lou McDonald paid tribute on the senator’s resignation last December, she spoke only of the health challenges he had faced,” the Fianna Fáil leader said.

“It appears the Oireachtas was misled on the full reasons for Senator Niall Ó Donnghaile’s resignation, following actions which the party itself described as unacceptable.

“The party’s track record of concealment and secrecy is shocking. It is apparent when it comes to Sinn Fein, the party always comes first.

“It is clear Sinn Fein again failed to tell the truth on a very serious matter and seem to have been involved in a very elaborate cover-up.”

Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns told the Dáil regardless of not naming Mr Ó Donnghaile over mental health concerns, “her statement was utterly glowing”.

“We need to know what she now has to say about her glowing statement,” she said.

“Much of her speech involved lambasting press officers in the party for giving glowing references [to Michael McMonagle].

“It does not seem that the same standard has been applied to her statements.

“She said that the minor in question was at the centre of Sinn Féin's actions with regard to the case of that minor and the former Senator.

“I wonder how that minor felt reading that glowing reference.”

The revelations about Niall Ó Donnghaile are just the latest controversy to engulf Sinn Féin. TD Patricia Ryan resigned last week over allegations her questions to party members were being “vetted”, while Brian Stanley suggested he was subject to an inquiry akin to a “kangaroo court”.

Ms McDonald also apologised on Tuesday over references given to former party press officer Michael McMonagle while he was under investigation for child sex offences.

She said the references “represented gross misconduct on the part of Seán Mag Uidhir and Caolán McGinley”, who she said knew their actions were “sackable offences so they jumped before they were pushed”.

Mr McMonagle was appointed to a role in the British Heart Foundation off the back of the references and only found out about the allegation when he appeared in court.

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