Niall Ó Donnghaile named as ex-Sinn Féin member who allegedly sent inappropriate text messages to teenager

Michael Bolton

Former Sinn Féin senator Niall Ó Donnghaile has revealed he is the party member suspended for sending inappropriate text messages to a 17-year-old.

Mr Ó Donnghaile told the Irish News in a statement that he accepted his actions warranted a resignation from the party.

The inappropriate texts to a teenager were sent in September last year and he resigned from the Seanad in December due to ill health.

In his statement, Mr Ó Donnghaile said that, in consultation with Sinn Féin, he accepted that his conduct warranted stepping down from his Seanad role and as a party member: “This would also give me the space to focus on improving of my health and well-being, issues I have been dealing with with my doctor since mid-2021.

“I also accept that I have embarrassed myself, my family, friends and former colleagues – this was never my intention,” he said.

“Since resigning from political and public life and now as a private citizen almost a year ago, my main focus has been on improving my mental health and supporting a family member through a challenging period of ill health – this remains my priority and I ask that I and everyone involved are allowed to move forward, with respect for our privacy.”

Mr Ó Donnghaile said he would make no further comment.

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald will make a statement on the matter to the Dáil on Tuesday evening.

No formal complaint was made to the PSNI by the teenager involved and therefore it was not investigated.

It comes as the party has been asked to explain its child safety procedures following separate revelations that two former party press officers provided referrals to a colleague who was under investigation for child sex crimes.

Former Sinn Féin press officer Michael McMonagle was suspended following his arrest in 2021. In 2022 he started working for the British Heart Foundation (BHF).

In September, McMonagle, 42, of Limewood Street, Derry, admitted a series of offenses including attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity. He will be sentenced in November.

Two other press officers, Sean Mag Uidhir and Caolan McGinley, resigned from the party after Sinn Fein began disciplinary proceedings against them after he gave McMonagle references.

Elsewhere, leading members of the government called on Sinn Féin to clarify questions surrounding a complaint about TD Brian Stanley.

At the weekend it emerged that the Laois-Offaly TD, who was also chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, had resigned from the party and would stand as an independent candidate at the next general election.

Sinn Féin said a complaint about Stanley and a ‘serious’ counter-allegation were referred to An Garda Siochana on Sunday.