O’Neill ‘fully accepts’ young person was 16 when sent inappropriate texts

Northern Ireland’s First Minister Michelle O’Neill has said she “fully accepts” that a young idiosyncratic sent inappropriate texts by erstwhile Sinn Fein legislator Niall O Donnghaile was 16 years aged erstwhile it occurred.

Ms O’Neill had told the Northern Ireland Assembly connected Monday that enactment records had shown the teen was 17 erstwhile the texts were sent.

She returned to the enclosure connected Tuesday to marque an updated statement.

Sinn Fein has been battling with a fig of controversies successful caller weeks.

Last week Mr O Donnghaile acknowledged helium discontinue Sinn Fein past twelvemonth aft the enactment received complaints that helium had sent inappropriate texts to a teenage enactment member.

Sinn Fein has said it referred the substance to the PSNI and societal services instantly past September, but nary transgression probe was pursued aft constabulary deemed that determination had been nary illegality.

Mr O’Donnghaile stepped down from the Seanad 3 months aft Sinn Fein had referred the contented to the authorities.

Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald past week told the Dail that the teen was 17 erstwhile helium had received the texts, a assertion aboriginal repeated astatine the Stormont Assembly by Ms O’Neill.

However, the teen told the Sunday Independent that helium was 16 erstwhile helium received what helium described arsenic “inappropriate messages” from Mr O Donnghaile past year.

Ms McDonald is expected to close the grounds successful the Dail connected Tuesday.

Over the play the young idiosyncratic made it wide that helium was successful information 16 astatine the clip and I afloat judge this

Michelle O'Neill

Addressing MLAs astatine Stormont, Ms O’Neill said: “Yesterday I was asked astir the property of the young idiosyncratic who was sent inappropriate substance messages by a Sinn Fein representative. It was my knowing that the young idiosyncratic was 17 years of property based connected the accusation of the exertion to articulation the party.

“This accusation was wrong. Over the play the young idiosyncratic made it wide that helium was successful information 16 astatine the clip and I afloat judge this.

“This greeting I privation to enactment connected the grounds that helium was successful information 16 years of property erstwhile these inappropriate texts were sent.

“What happened to this young idiosyncratic was wrong. Niall O Donnghaile’s behaviour was unacceptable and wholly inappropriate and nary young idiosyncratic should person experienced that.

“As I said yesterday, I americium perfectly truthful atrocious for the wounded caused by the connection issued pursuing his resignation.”

Separately, Ms O’Neill besides told the Assembly that a Sinn Fein subordinate has resigned from the enactment aft admitting engagement successful damaging the representation of a erstwhile DUP lord politician astatine Belfast City Hall.

An probe had been launched aft the authoritative representation of Lord Wallace Browne was damaged astatine the weekend.

Ms O’Neill told MLAs: “Yesterday a Sinn Fein worker who worked successful the Assembly made the enactment main whip alert of their engagement successful an incidental regarding a representation successful Belfast City Hall.

“This took spot connected Saturday October 19. The worker was instantly suspended and we notified the PSNI.

“The worker has present resigned from their employment and their enactment membership.”

Lord Browne’s representation was damaged conscionable days aft a representation of Mr O Donnghaile, besides a erstwhile Belfast lord mayor, was removed from the City Hall.