‘Inappropriate’ texts to teenager lead to Sinn Féin member resigning after investigation

The party member was suspended and the incident was referred to the authorities.

Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald was informed of the incident and the party leadership later acknowledged the party member’s resignation – without mentioning the investigation.

The revelation comes as Sinn Féin struggles to manage the fallout from a child abuser’s staff member receiving job references from party officials.

It is believed the text messages were personal and physical in nature, but not sexually explicit.

The outgoing Sinn Féin member was active in the party in Dublin.

This person was a long-time party member and comes from a well-known family of the Republican movement. The teenager is from Northern Ireland.

It is understood the former Sinn Féin member and the teenager met while applying for the party.

It is common for party members from both sides of the border to campaign across the island, especially during elections.

The former party member was known personally and professionally by Ms McDonald and regularly attended meetings with her. Ms McDonald had great respect for the individual and respected their work for the party.

The suspect also had frequent contact with several other members of the Sinn Féin leadership.

The teenager was a member of Ógra Shinn Féin but has now left the party over the incident. The youngster became quite upset by the approaches.

The alleged inappropriate messages caused uproar within the party on the ground in the area in Northern Ireland when they came to light.

Sinn Féin confirmed this to the Irish independent that the suspect resigned from the party after the investigation.

The party has declined to identify the person, calling him only a “party member.” Sinn Féin also pointed out that it followed child protection guidelines.

“On September 11, 2023, we received a complaint that a party member had sent an inappropriate message to a 17-year-old party member,” a Sinn Féin spokesperson said.

“On September 12, in accordance with child protection guidelines, the individual was suspended and the matter was immediately referred to the PSNI and Social Services for investigation.

“On September 27, the PSNI informed the party that they were not conducting a formal investigation into the matter. They also expressed their support for the actions the party had taken, both from their perspective and that of the (teenage) family.

“The individual subsequently resigned from the party.”

Sinn Féin also confirmed that Ms McDonald was informed of the matter on September 13, 2023 – the day after the party member’s suspension.

Sinn Féin’s National Protection Office in Northern Ireland liaised with the PSNI and the relevant authorities.

The former party member was contacted for comment but did not respond.

The PSNI did not investigate the case because the young person did not want to make a formal complaint. The teenager is said to have only wanted the party to get the Sinn Féin member to stop messaging him.

The PSNI contacted the teenager and their family, and Northern Ireland Social Services were also involved.

“In September 2023, a referral was made to the Police Service of Northern Ireland by a political party. Assurance assessments and collaboration with other statutory bodies were carried out at the time. “No formal complaint has been received from anyone,” the PSNI said.

Sinn Féin said the party member had been contacted to be kept informed of the outcome of the investigation. The party member subsequently resigned. The text messages were deemed inappropriate enough by the party to involve authorities.

However, the Irish independent understands that there was contact between the party and the person concerned at a later stage. Sinn Féin has declined to comment further on the matter.

The latest revelations will keep the spotlight on Ms McDonald ahead of a Dáil debate on her party’s handling of a child sex abuser.

The Dáil business committee agreed to make two hours of statements on child protection following revelations about Sinn Féin press officers writing a reference letter for a colleague who was under investigation for child sexual abuse.

Ms McDonald has apologized for her party’s handling of the scandal, but has also threatened to highlight abuse cases linked to other political parties if the Dáil debate goes ahead.

She said she was “disgusted” when she heard that Sinn Féin press officers Seán Mag Uidhir and Caolán McGinley had written references for Michael McMonagle so he could get a new communications job at the British Heart Foundation (BHF).

McMonagle was under investigation for several child abuse offenses at the time. He has now admitted the facts. Sinn Féin failed to inform the BHF that the party suspended McMonagle when it learned he was under investigation for child abuse.