Three senators request Oireachtas probe into Ó Donnghaile

Three senators have requested an Oireachtas investigation into the actions of former senator Niall Ó Donnghaile regarding his inappropriate messaging with a 17-year-old Sinn Féin's response.

Fine Gael Senator Mary Seery Kearney, as well as Independents Alice Mary Higgins and Lynn Ruane, described what transpired as "egregious breaches" of Oireachtas child protection policies.

In a letter to Ceann Comhairle of the Dáil Seán Ó Feargháil, in his capacity as chair of the Oireachtas Commission, they requested that he inform them how he proposes to investigate these "serious matters" and ensure "incidents like these do not happen again".

Earlier, Sinn Féin confirmed that some members of its youth wing were made aware that Mr Ó Donnghaile had sent inappropriate texts to a teenager before September last year.

The party maintains that the leadership only learned of the inappropriate texting on 11 September 2023, and then contacted the PSNI and social services on foot of that information.

However, a Sinn Féin spokesperson said this morning that: "In the weeks prior to 11 September 2023 when he [the teenager] contacted the party, and the matter was referred to the PSNI, the young person did discuss this issue with some of his peers in Ógra [Sinn Féin.]"

The spokesperson added: "When the young person contacted Sinn Féin he was advised to retain all messages on his phone as they would be required by the PSNI. We then referred the matter to the PSNI and social services. The family confirmed to the party that the messages had been shown to the PSNI as part of their investigation."

The teenager is understood to have received the text messages in the spring of 2023.

On 13 September 2023, in line with the party's child protection guidelines and given that the complainant was under 18, Mr Ó Donnghaile was suspended from the party and the matter was referred to the PSNI and social services.

Two weeks later the PSNI told the party that there was to be no formal investigation, and the teenager was content with the sanctions taken by Sinn Féin.

A statement confirming Mr Ó Donnghaile's resignation from the Seanad was issued by the party on 21 December 2023, with no reference to the disciplinary process and stating he was stepping down on medical advice.

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald told the Dáil earlier this week that what Mr Ó Donnghaile had done had been "completely unacceptable".

As part of the party's inquiry, it was informed of a second individual - an adult - who had also been receiving "inappropriate text messages" from Mr Ó Donnghaile.

Separately, Sinn Féin deputy leader Michelle O'Neill said she thinks it is appropriate that a portrait of Mr Ó Donnghaile is removed from Belfast City Hall.

Mr Ó Donnghaile became the youngest Lord Mayor of Belfast in 2011, and like all who hold that office, had an official portrait painted and displayed to mark his year in the role.

Sinn Féin backed the motion to remove his portrait from City Hall.

Speaking to media in Belfast, Ms O'Neill said: "I think it is appropriate. His behaviour was completely inappropriate so, therefore, I think that we had no issue whatsoever in backing the removal of the portrait."

Asked whether she has any regrets over the party's remarks when Mr Ó Donnghaile resigned, Ms O'Neill said: "I think Mary Lou McDonald tried to set that record straight in terms of the considerations that she had to take on board, particularly in relation to his severe mental health, and that was the only consideration that we had whenever he stepped back.

"It's appropriate that he stepped back but I'm very confident in terms of how we conducted ourselves, how we referred him to the PSNI and to social services, that that was correct and proper.

"I think that was appropriate but we were concerned about his mental health and we also had the issue of legally being able to name him."

Additional reporting PA