Niall Ó Donnghaile has resigned as Honorary President at a west Belfast GAA club.
Just hours after revelations that the former Sinn Féin senator and Belfast lord mayor resigned from the party after sending allegedly inappropriate messages to a 17-year-old and an adult, it was confirmed he has stepped down from Laochra Loch Lao.
In a statement posted on social media on Tuesday night, the club said: “Laochra Loch Lao CLG can confirm that Niall Ó Donnghaile has resigned as honorary president of our club.
“This was an ambassadorial role which did not involve engagement with children or vulnerable groups.
“The club will be making no further comment.”
— CLG Laochra Loch Lao (@LaochraLochLao) October 15, 2024
Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald has also confirmed that the party did not make the west Belfast GAA club aware of the allegations against Mr Ó Donnghaile.
Speaking on RTÉ's Six One News, she said “it wouldn’t be for a political party to do”.
She said once a referral was made to the PSNI and the social services it was up to those agencies to determine a safeguarding assessment after their joint investigation.
She added that the party had “robust processes that they are applied efficiently”.
