Former Sinn Féin senator Niall Ó Donnghaile reveals he is behind inappropriate text messages
https://www.irishnews.com/news/politics/former-sinn-fein-senator-niall-o-donnghaile-reveals-he-is-behind-inappropriate-text-messages-RN564G62NFEPPI7OMUKG4HSR5M/
Posted by badger-biscuits
31 Comments
Sinn fein had a 4:0 lead and somehow managed to concede 9 own goals.
Reset the counter to “0 days since SF had a scandal”.
Will Sinn Fein be the ones behind the Russian Honeytrap scandal?
I’m assuming the teenager was an adult when they don’t call them a child?
Mary Lou’s statement on the man when he stepped down
“Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald paid tribute to Mr Ó Donnghaile, saying in a statement:
“Niall has served in the Seanad for almost eight years giving voice to northern nationalists in the Oireachtas.
“Niall served diligently during that period, and indeed prior during his time as a member of Belfast City Council and as Ardmhéara Beál Feirste.
“In particular, Niall made a valuable contribution to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement.
“I hope that Niall can overcome the health challenges that he has had to deal with over the past number of months, and I wish him and his family the very best for the future.”
It’s really not been Sinn Féin’s month has it 😂
Is Mary Lou done for?
Some of the SF heads on twitter will have a hard time explaining how this one is an RTÉ/MSM conspiracy ….
I assume this is the real reason he stood down last year, or is this something that has happened since?
Yikes this is like a loose thread on a jumper that keeps unravelling. :/
Oh Sinn Féin, can’t you go five seconds without humiliating yourself?
Gavan Reilly:
“The reason this is significant: Announcing his resignation from the Seanad last year, SF HQ issued statements – one in his name, one in that of Mary Lou McDonald – attributing his departure to health grounds. McDonald wished him well. No reference to/acknowledgement of this issue”
Lmao to think they were seen as guaranteed to win the election 18 months ago 😂😂😂
Amazing how many middle aged men who hit on teenage girls, suddenly discover ‘mental health problems’ as soon as they’re called out…
ETA, I should have said ‘teenage kids’, as has been pointed out below. But my main point stands – middle aged guys, caught out perving on teenagers, do suddenly seem to manifest mental health problems no-one was previously aware of, don’t they…?
>Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald paid tribute to Mr Ó Donnghaile, saying in a statement: “Niall has served in the Seanad for almost eight years giving voice to northern nationalists in the Oireachtas.
>”Niall served diligently during that period, and indeed prior during his time as a member of Belfast City Council and as Ardmhéara Beál Feirste.
>”In particular, Niall made a valuable contribution to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement.
>”I hope that Niall can overcome the health challenges that he has had to deal with over the past number of months, and I wish him and his family the very best for the future.”
Glowing tribute from MLMD for a man she knew was pestering underage girls. Absolutely vile.
The Irish News
Politics
Former Sinn Féin senator Niall Ó Donnghaile reveals he is behind inappropriate text messages
One-time Belfast lord mayor apologises for behaviour that led to his resignation
Senator Niall Ó Donnghaile
For Sinn Féin senator Niall Ó Donnghaile
By John Manley, Politics Correspondent
October 15, 2024 at 3:25pm BST
Former senator Niall Ó Donnghaile has revealed that he is the Sinn Féin member at the centre of the latest controversy to embroil the party.
In a statement provided to The Irish News, the one-time Belfast lord mayor confirms that in September last year he sent inappropriate messages.
It has reported that the messages were sent to a teenager and that the PSNI was notified but that no formal complaint from any person was received.
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.
Bad case of the atchafoya
Ah Jaysus Christ
If this was any other party Mary Lou’s goose would be cooked even before this latest revelation. Surely she has to resign over this ?
I am not surprised, a few party members are not fit for the job. Mary Lou has let her grip on the lease slip
Poll : will Mary Lou McDonald resign before or after her next morning Ireland interview?
Incredible that they have collapsed so completely in such a short period of time. Sad to see no meaningful opposition to the usual 2 party reacharound though
If you ever see this fella staring at your house, make sure to warn your nextdoor neighbours.
Oh sweet fuck, they’ve known since December and kept it under wraps until he revealed it himself…
This is fucking wild.
And yet *somehow someway* the SDLP will fail to take advantage yet again.
Apparently MLMD made her statement and just immediately ran out of the Dail chamber without taking questions or hearing the statements from the other parties.
So accountable. Can’t get more accountable than Mary Lou and her party.
I am just getting over the shock of Philip Schofield, now this! 😂
this is turning into a right shit show, and sinn fein are starting to look like a right shower of Muppets.
Think I’m having a “Dougle* moment but can anyone explain to me where Brian Stanley comes into the whole thing?
Juicy as this stuff is, I’m really struggling to see how the shinners could’ve responded more appropriately based on what we know here?
Suspended, referred to cops and social services. Complainant satisfied…
I mean it’s embarrassing but where’s the fault?
I fundamentally disagree that it’s ‘in the public interest’ to then destroy a person who has been dealt with publicly and especially someone with a history of mental health crises.
Oh Christ, leave the kids alone.