It has been revealed that Niall O Donnghaile, an Irish Antifa activist and former Sinn Fein party senator, resigned from his position last year over allegations that he had sent "inappropriate" text messages to an underage boy. The ultra-nationalist-turned-woke party has been accused of attempting to cover up his cause of resignation at the time, claiming mental health issues. However, new information reported in Irish media on Tuesday shows the Sinn Fein party received a formal complaint about the ex-senator’s misconduct and that had allegedly “intentionally misled” the public about his resignation.

The text messages sent to a teen boy were reportedly not sexually explicit but were "personal" and physical in nature, as reported by the Belfast Telegraph. The Sinn Fein party became aware of the allegations three months before O Donnghaile, 39, resigned.

O Donnghaile, a leftist activist who has described himself as “vigorously antifascist,” issued an admission of guilt in a recent statement to Irish News, describing his actions as a “great embarrassment to myself, my family, friends and former colleagues.” The Times reported that he continued to be paid until earlier this year.

 

The former senator, who comes from a prominent Sinn Fein family, served as senator from 2016 until his resignation in December 2023. Prior to that, O Donnghaile was Lord Mayor of Belfast from June 2011 to June 2012. He disabled his X account, formerly Twitter, sometime before the scandal became public. He has frequently discussed his antifa beliefs on social media and in the Irish parliament.

 

 

Sinn Fein Deputy Leader Pearse Doherty confirmed that they had received an official complaint about the former senator's misconduct, but denied allegations to NewsTalkFM that the party intentionally covered up the scandal, citing O Donnghaile's alleged history of mental health issues as an excuse at the time.

“Niall O Donnghaile not only lost his membership of the party, but he lost his job and he lost everything that was actually important to him…and that was the consequences of what we believe were very inappropriate actions,” Doherty said.

The radio hosts pressed Doherty if the party “intentionally misled” the public because of O Donnghaile's family lineage with the party. The deputy leader denied those claims.

O Donnghaile told the Irish parliament in a resignation letter last December that he would be stepping down from his public role at the "advice of [his] doctor."

 

After the senator resigned from parliament, party officials and former colleagues supported him despite being allegedly being aware of the allegations.

Mary Lou McDonald, Sinn Fein's party leader, praised his “diligent service” in a statement, and wished him “the very best for the future.” McDonald has not only been accused of covering up O Donnghaile’s misconduct, but also other members who have been accused of child sex crimes, including former press officer Michael McMonagle.

Opposition party leaders have called for a full investigation into the Sinn Fein's alleged cover up.