The portrait of the former Lord Mayor is currently on display in Belfast City Hall
Sinn Fein Vice President Michelle O’Neill has said she thinks it is "appropriate" that a portrait of former Belfast Lord Mayor Niall Ó Donnghaile is removed from City Hall. It comes after a motion at the council brought by the DUP following Mr Ó Donnghaile’s admission he left Sinn Fein after allegedly sending inappropriate text messages to a teenager.
He went on to serve as an Irish senator before his resignation last year. Sinn Fein is facing questions over its handling of the case, which emerged after the separate case of the former party press officer, Michael McMonagle, who admitted child sex offences earlier this year. McMonagle, 42, from Limewood Street, Derry, last month admitted to a series of offences, including attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity.
Asked whether she has any regrets over the party essentially paying tribute to Mr Ó Donnghaile when he left, Ms O’Neill said: “I think Mary-Lou McDonald tried to set that record straight in terms of the considerations that she had to take on board, particularly in relation to his severe mental health, and that was the only consideration that we had whenever he stepped back.
“I think that was appropriate but we were concerned about his mental health and we also had the issue of legally being able to name him.”
DUP PSNI Michelle O'neill Belfast City Council Belfast City Hall In The News
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