FORMER Senator Niall Ó Donnghaile has revealed he is the Sinn Féin member who stepped down after sending inappropriate messages.
He confirmed that he sent the messages to a 17-year-old in September 2023. In December, Mr Ó Donnghaile said he would be resigning from the Seanad upon advice from his doctor.
In a statement given to the Irish News on Tuesday afternoon, the former Belfast Lord Mayor said he accepted his behaviour warranted stepping down and apologised for his actions.
“I also accept that I have caused great embarrassment to myself, my family, friends and former colleagues – this was never my intention,” he said.
“Since resigning from political and public life almost a year ago, and now as a private citizen, my main focus has been on improving my mental health and also supporting a relative through a challenging period of ill-health – this remains my priority and I ask that I and all those concerned are allowed to move on, with our privacy respected.”
From Short Strand in East Belfast, Niall Ó Donnaghaile served as Lord Mayor of Belfast from 2011 to 2012. At 25, he was the city's youngest person ever to take up the post of First Citizen. He was elected to the Seanad in 2016.
Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald addressed the matter in the Dáil on Tuesday.
She said that on 11th September 2023 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. Ms McDonald said the young man wanted this to stop and wanted no further contact to be made to him by Mr Donnghaile. On 12th September the Chairperson of Belfast Sinn Fein was informed of the complaint and so began the formal party procedure, she said.
“As part of the party’s inquiries 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. He chose not to.
“On 13th September in line with our child protection guidelines, given that the complainant was under the age of 18, Niall Ó Donnghaile was suspended from the party and the issue was immediately referred to the PSNI and Social Services in the North to investigate. This was clearly not a matter for any political party to be adjudicating on. The PSNI investigates crime. Social Services supervise safeguarding.
Mary Lou McDonald
“On 27th September the PSNI informed the party that there was an agreed joint investigation between the PSNI and social services. No formal investigation followed. The PSNI also informed us that the young person was content with the actions taken by the party.
“There was no finding of illegality, and no criminal charges were pursued. However, Niall Ó Donnghaile’s actions were not acceptable.”
She said this view was made clear to Mr Ó Donnghaile at a meeting on October 5th involving the Party Chair, Chief Whip and Chairperson of Belfast Sinn Féin.
“At that meeting Niall Ó Donnghaile stated that he would be resigning both from the Seanad and the party,” Ms McDonald said.
“Sinn Féin actions were firstly guided by concern for the young person at the centre of this incident. Secondly, for accountability and consequences for the actions of Niall Ó Donnghaile. He faced consequences that were proportionate to his unacceptable behaviour.”
She said the party had received legal advice against naming Mr Ó Donnghaile at the time as there was no criminal charge brought against him.
“However, the question may be asked and has been asked legitimately why Sinn Féin didn’t inform the Oireachtas of the circumstances of Niall Ó Donnghaile’s resignation as a Senator. And that’s a fair question and let me answer it.
“In the summer of 2021, Niall Ó Donnghaile was on extended leave from his duties in the Seanad due to serious mental health issues. Following the complaint, we were advised that Niall Ó Donnghaile was again suffering from a mental health crisis and had been deemed medically unfit for work by his doctor. Leas Ceann Comhairle, we were very worried that publicly naming him would be dangerous to his health.
“That is not to make to excuse his behaviour, but we had very serious concerns about his mental health and his safety. I still hold some of those concerns to this very day.
“Niall Ó Donnghaile publicly resigned on December 21st last. On that occasion, I wished him and his family well, acknowledged his work in the past, and above all wished him well in dealing with his very very significant health challenges.
“Niall Ó Donnghaile was held to account as a result of the procedures in our party, pursuing accountability and consequences.
“The matter was referred to the PSNI for criminal investigation and the social services as a direct result of the procedures of our party.
“This case has clearly impacted especially on the young person receiving these unwanted and inappropriate messages. Despite the position that Niall Ó Donnghaile held in our party, he has been held to account, and the safety of that young person has been the foremost concern.”
