“For more than a year, Mary Lou McDonald and Sinn Féin have attempted to hide the reasons as to why their former Senator Niall Ó Donnghaile was sacked for ‘unacceptable behaviours’ by the party and instead preferred to provide him with cover and glowing public references.

The Sinn Féin president has been criticised for paying tribute to the senator following his resignation last December

Some party members “want Mary Lou gone” as leader after three weeks of seismic turmoil and multiple controversies for Sinn Féin.

Sinn Fein does not need to correct the Dail record over a claim by party president Mary Lou McDonald that the teenager who was texted by a former party senator was 17, a TD has said.

The Sinn Féin president told the Dáil last week that the young person who complained about inappropriate messages from Niall Ó Donnghaile was 17