Northern Ireland

Niall Ó Donnghaile continued to be paid up until early this year and received lump sum following resignation as senator

The former Sinn Féin press officer also received six monthly payments after leaving the Oireachtas in January

Senator Niall Ó Donnghaile
Former Senator Niall Ó Donnghaile
By John Breslin

Niall Ó Donnghaile continued to be paid by the Oireachtas up until early this year, after which he received a termination lump sum and then six monthly payments.

Mr O’Donnghaile announced his resignation as Senator last December, three months after the party first became aware of inappropriate text messages, including to a 17-year-old boy, a member of the party.

The 39-year-old, a party activist from the age of 16, was first elected to Belfast city council in 2011 at aged 25, the same year he was named the new lord mayor of the city.

But prior to his election, Mr O’Donnghaile was a member of the Sinn Féin press office working out of Stormont. While there is no comparison with the case of Michael McMonagle, who pleaded guilty to child sex offences, he was also a press officer for the party.

Two other former press officers, Sean Mag Uidhir and Caolán McGinley, provided references helping McMonagle get a job at the British Heart Foundation. This was a year after McMonagle was first arrested and suspended by the party.

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It has now emerged Mr Ó Donnghaile continued to be paid as a Senator from September when the party was first made aware of the allegations until January 22. Senators are paid approximately £6,600 a month before tax.

On termination, Mr O’Donnghaile was entitled to a lump sum and, because he served eight years, also received the six monthly payments at 75% of his previous salary.

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald making her statement in the Dáil
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald making a statement in the Dáil

Following his December resignation, Sinn Féin leader Mary McDonald delivered what a member of the Dáil described as “glowing” reference for Mr O’Donnghaile, a description called a “stretch” by the party’s spokesperson on finance Pearse Doherty

Tánaiste Micheál Martin accused Ms McDonald of “misleading” the Oireachtas by failing to reveal the factual details surrounding the senator’s exit from politics.

“It is clear Sinn Féin again failed to tell the truth on a very serious matter and seems to have been involved in a very elaborate cover-up,” Mr Martin said.