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

Michael Bolton

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

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

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

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

“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.”

Mr Ó Donnghaile said he would be making no further comment.

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald is due to make a statement to the Dáil on the issue on Tuesday evening.

No formal complaint was made by the teenager involved to the PSNI and so it has not been 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 references to a colleague who was under investigation for child sex crimes.

Former Sinn Féin press officer Michael McMonagle was suspended after his arrest in 2021. He went on to work for the British Heart Foundation (BHF) in 2022.

In September, McMonagle, 42, from Limewood Street, Derry, admitted a series of offences, 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 providing references for McMonagle.

Elsewhere, senior members of the Government called on Sinn Féin to clarify questions around a complaint made about TD Brian Stanley.

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

Sinn Féin said a complaint made about Mr Stanley and a “serious” counter-allegation were referred to An Garda Siochana on Sunday.