Sinn Féin Faces Scrutiny Over Senator's Resignation

Sinn Féin is facing backlash over the resignation of former Senator Niall Ó Donnghaile, who stepped down amid allegations of sending inappropriate messages to a 17-year-old boy. While party leaders initially attributed his resignation to health issues, it has since emerged that the true reasons were concealed, leading to accusations of a cover-up from political opponents. Sinn Féin's Pearse Doherty acknowledged that 'full information' regarding Ó Donnghaile's resignation was not disclosed, citing concerns for his mental health as a factor in their decision. Taoiseach Simon Harris has accused the party of misleading the public, intensifying scrutiny on Sinn Féin's handling of recent scandals. Mary Lou McDonald defended the party's actions, stating they had legal advice against naming Ó Donnghaile during his mental health crisis. The ongoing controversies have prompted criticism from former party members and raised broader questions about child safeguarding within Sinn Féin.