Disgraced Sinn Féin Senator Niall Ó Donnghaile sent text messages to a third person

Former Sinn Féin senator Niall Ó Donnghaile sent inappropriate text messages to a third person after resigning from the Seanad, leading to accusations that Mary Lou McDonald had ‘encouraged’ him with a glowing reference.

The SF leader has been accused of an “extensive cover-up” over his dismissal on December 21, 2023, which was attributed at the time to ill health.

However, it was actually a complaint – which had been received by the party months earlier – that he had sent inappropriate messages to a teenager.

Taoiseach Simon Harris has accused Ms McDonald of ‘duping’ the public and the Oireachtas after she became aware of the case on September 13 but proceeded to pay tribute to Mr Ó Donnghaile over his resignation from the Seanad in December.

She praised the former Belfast mayor for ‘giving a voice to northern nationalists in the Oireachtas’ and wished him well in the future.

Ms McDonald admitted in the Dáil this week that the party received a second complaint about inappropriate messages sent by Ó Donnghaile, this time to an adult man.

The Irish News reported yesterday that a man had received ‘numerous’ messages from Mr Ó Donnghaile after he resigned from the Seanad.

This is the third man to say he received inappropriate messages.

Former SF member Mairia Cahill told the Mail she believes Ms McDonald’s statement ‘encouraged’ Mr Ó Donnghaile to continue sending inappropriate messages after his resignation.

She said: “Mary Lou McDonald should correct the Dáil record, apologize to the young person at the center of this, and to others who received messages after her public statement emerged, which never mentioned the activities he resigned.’

“If she had informed the public about his activities and not concealed it, or said he served diligently, it is doubtful that others would have felt uncomfortable.”

The Mail contacted Sinn Féin to ask if Ms McDonald would apologise.

A spokesperson said: ‘No, she has made a detailed statement and expressed her regret in the Dáil.’ Asked whether Mr Ó Donnghaile might not have been able to send more messages if she had made it clear why he was leaving, he said: ‘You’ll have to ask him that.’

Mr Ó Donnghaile did not respond to a request for comment last night. SF introduced a ‘secret suspension’ of Mr Ó Donnghaile on September 13, 2023, following a complaint that he sent inappropriate messages to a child in the party’s youth wing.

The party discovered that he was sending inappropriate messages to a young adult at the same time they learned of the complaint regarding the child.

The adult referred to in the Irish News story is the third person to have received inappropriate messages from him. Despite his suspension, Mr Ó Donnghaile announced his retirement on 21 December 2023, citing ill health.

SF said he was on “sick leave” after the complaint was received, and did not immediately deport him due to concerns about his mental health.

Ms McDonald released a ‘glowing’ statement after his announcement, praising Mr Ó Donnghaile, despite knowing he had been suspended.

She said he “gave a voice to northern nationalists in the Oireachtas” for almost eight years.

“Niall served diligently during that period, including during his time as a member of Belfast City Council and as Ardmhéara Beál Feirste.”

“In particular, Niall has made a valuable contribution to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on the implementation of the Good Friday Agreement,” she said, adding that he was on “sick leave” following his suspension.

Oireach records show that Mr Ó Donnghaile claimed more than €5,000 in travel expenses during his ‘secret suspension’.

Pressed about her statement from RTÉ this week, Ms McDonald said: ‘When I said on the statement that I wished him well, especially in terms of his health, I meant it, and to this day I mean it and I wish his family the best. .’

Meanwhile, three senators have written to Ceann Comhairle as chairman of the Oireachtas committee, asking for an investigation into the resignation.

Mary Seery Kearney, Lynn Ruane and Alice Mary Higgins claim the case represents ‘serious breaches’ of Oireachtas’ child protection policy under the Children First Act 2015.