Sinn Féin First Minister Michelle O’Neill used “we” and “us” when answering questions about decision making around dealing with former Senator Niall Ó Donnghaile.
Mr O’Donnghaile, from the Short Strand area of Belfast, announced his resignation from the Oireachtas in December last year.
While he and party leaders said at the time the resignation was due to health reasons, it emerged this week the long-time activist’s leaving was directly connected to the sending of inappropriate messages, including to a 17-year-old male.
Sinn Féin did not reply to Irish News questions over when Ms O’Neill knew of the real reason behind the resignation, but she referred to “we” and “us” after being asked about the matter on Wednesday.
“I think Mary Lou (McDonald) has set out very categorically everything we knew and when we knew it in the Dail statement,” the party’s vice-president said.
“We were very conscious in terms of legal advice that was sought, in terms of naming the individual.
“I think we can confidently stand over the approach that we took and…from day one we have set out to be as transparent as we can in terms of setting out all the facts.”
Ms O’Neill, who said there are no questions over the party leader’s position following a series of revelations, including around the now convicted sex offender Michael McMonagle, added of Ms McDonald: “She also set out very clearly that we had legal advice in terms of him not being named and that was very important.”
Following his December resignation, Sinn Féin leader Mary McDonald delivered what one member of the Dail described as “glowing” reference for Mr O’Donnghaile, a description called a “stretch” by the party’s spokesperson on finance Pearse Doherty
Mr O’Neill made no reference to the O’Donnghaile resignation for inappropriate messages to a 17-year-old when answering questions about the McMonagle affair in the Assembly last week.
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.
Taoiseach Simon Harris, speaking in Brussels, said it was Ireland’s public and parliament were “duped” by Sinn Féin.
In her statement at the time of the announcement, Ms McDonald said: “I want to wish Niall Ó Donnghaile the very best for the future as he announces his resignation from the Seanad.
“Niall has served in the Seanad for almost eight years giving voice to northern nationalists in the Oireachtas.”
She added that he served “diligently during that period, and indeed prior during his time as a member of Belfast City Council and as Ardmhéara Beál Feirste.”
“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,” she said.”
Ms McDonald on Wednesday said he made an important contribution but that it was also true that his behaviour in texting the teenager was unacceptable.
The sanction applied to him had been appropriate and it was a “big deal” to someone who’s life had been framed by politics.
Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly said that “ultimately this isn’t a crisis of institutions, it is a crisis within Sinn Féin”.
“There are very serious questions for Sinn Féin to answer when it comes to the safeguarding of children”, she said.
“It is really important that everyone steps up with full transparency and honestly and transparently answer these serious questions.”
Meanwhile, the Executive Committee has not yet received legal advice on whether to invite Ms O’Neill to answer further questions in relation to McMonagle, suspended by the party following his arrest in August 2021 but remained employed by the party for a further year and only had his pass revoked on October 1.
