Sinn Féin has been accused of “shocking secrecy” after leader Mary Lou McDonald sought to defend her party’s handling of child protection scandals involving party members.
The party has been rocked by a string of revelations in recent weeks, including that two of its press officers gave job references to suspected sex offender Michael McMonagle and a former Belfast Lord Mayor admitting he resigned 10 months ago after sending inappropriate messages to a 17-year-old.
Former senator Niall Ó Donnghaile revealed on Tuesday to The Irish News that he is the Sinn Féin member at the centre of the controversy and apologised for his actions.
Sinn Féin passed a complaint to police in September 2023 but when he resigned from the Seanad three months later, Ms McDonald praised him, wished him well for the future and made no mention of the reason for his resignation or the complaint to police.
She said this was because of “concerns for his mental health and his safety”.
Mr Ó Donnghaile said he regrets deeply any upset caused to the recipient of the messages.
“I also accept that I have caused great embarrassment to myself, my family, friends and former colleagues – this was never my intention,” he told The Irish News.
“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 also resigned as honorary president of GAA club Laochra Loch Lao, although Sinn Féin confirmed on Tuesday evening that the party had not told the club about the child protection complaint relating to Mr Ó Donnghaile.
In an earlier Dáil defence of her party’s actions, Ms McDonald cited Mr Ó Donnghaile’s mental health problems as the reason he wasn’t named.
She said “nothing more important than protecting the safety and wellbeing of children”.
Fianna Fáil leader and Tánaiste Micheal Martin accused Sinn Féin of putting the party first – adding that “fundamental questions” had been raised about its governance.
He said: “The party’s track record of concealment and secrecy is shocking.”
Labour leader Ivana Bacik claimed Sinn Féin had a “lack of regard for victims” and a “culture of secrecy and cover up”.
Ms McDonald said Ó Donnghaile was suspended last September after sending the inappropriate text message.
“The young man wanted this to stop and he wanted no further contact to be made to him by Niall Ó Donnghaile.
“On September 12, the chairperson of Belfast Sinn Féin was informed of the complaint, and so began the formal party procedure as part of the party’s inquiry.
“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, but he chose not to.
“On September 13, 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.”
Ms McDonald said the PSNI informed Sinn Féin that the young person was “content” with the actions taken by the party in response to a complaint about the former senator.
She said no formal investigation followed and added: “There was no finding of illegality and no criminal charges were pursued.
“However, Niall Ó Donnghaile’s actions were not acceptable. This was made clear to Niall Ó Donnghaile at a meeting on October 5 (2023).”
She added: “Niall Ó Donnghaile stated that he would be resigning both from the Seanad and the party.”
Ms McDonald said Sinn Féin’s actions were “firstly guided by concern for the young person at the centre of this incident” as well as accountability for Mr Ó Donnghaile.
“He faced those consequences, ones that were proportionate to his unacceptable behaviour.”
Mr Ó Donnghaile, who was previously the lord mayor of Belfast, resigned from the Seanad in December, citing advice of a doctor.
Mary Lou McDonald said it was “fair” to question why the party did not inform the Oireachtas about the circumstances around his resignation.
She said the party was worried that publicly naming him would be “dangerous to his health”.
She added that Mr Ó Donnghaile had a period of extended leave in summer 2021 due to “very serious mental health issues”.
“Following the complaint, we were advised that Niall Ó Donnghaile was again suffering from a mental health crisis and was deemed medically unfit for work by his doctor.
“We were very worried that publicly naming him would be dangerous to his health, and that is not to make an excuse for his behaviour, but we had very serious concerns for his mental health and his safety – and I still hold some of those concerns to this very day.”
At Stormont on Tuesday, DUP MLA Jonathan Buckley made a request that First Minister Michelle O’Neill answer questions about the Niall Ó Donnghaile case, claiming it was “another serious safeguarding issue”.
Meanwhile, Ms McDonald told the Dáil that while not related to child safeguarding, a complaint against a senior party TD who recently resigned from the party was “very serious” and left the complainant “traumatised and distressed”.
Brian Stanley, the high-profile chair of the Oireachtas Public Accounts Committee, has claimed he was subjected to a “character assassination” by a clique within the party and likened its processes to a kangaroo court.
“The complaint relates to an incident that took place in October 2023 and relates to Deputy Stanley’s personal behaviour – leaving the complainant, in her words, traumatised and distressed,” Ms McDonald said.
