Niall Ó Donnghaile, hailing from Belfast, is a past senator for Sinn Féin, serving in this role from 2016 and re-elected in 2020. Before this, he held the position of Belfast lord mayor from 2011 to 2012 and served as a member of the Belfast City Council from 2011 until 2016. Initially, he began his career as a community worker.
Health issues were given as the reason when he unexpectedly stepped back from his position in the Seanad in December of the previous year. Following his resignation, it was revealed that Ó Donnghaile was the member of Sinn Féin who resigned following the accusation of sending inappropriate messages to a teenager. In his resignation statement, he referred to medical advice preventing his attendance to the Seanad.
He stated, “Due to the circumstances, it is uncertain when there will be a resolution. Resigning from the Seanad and retreating from public life is in the best interest of myself, my family, and the party”.
His resignation was effective immediately. Mary Lou McDonald, the leader of Sinn Féin, expressed her hope at the time of his resignation that Ó Donnghaile could navigate his health issues and wished him all the best for the future. McDonald recalled his near eight years of service “representing northern nationalists at Oireachtas”.
She stated, “Niall dedicated himself to his service during those years, as well as during his previous time as a member of the Belfast City Council and as Ardmhéara Beál Feirste. Notably, Niall played a critical role in the Joint Oireachtas Committee, regarding the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement”.
On his profile on a social media platform X, Ó Donnghaile claimed he is presently “living life at a slower pace”.