Belfast City councillor JJ Magee has been suspended from Sinn Fein following receipt of an allegation that inappropriate online messages were exchanged between him and a minor.
The party whip has also been removed from him.
Sinn Fein’s national chairperson Declan Kearney confirmed the news on Sunday night.
He stated that the Chief Executive of Belfast City Council has been notified about the decision.
“Cllr Magee has been suspended from the party without prejudice following receipt of an allegation that inappropriate online messages were exchanged between him and a minor,” a statement reads.
“This has been forwarded to the Social Services and the PSNI, in compliance with Sinn Féin child safeguarding policy.
“The party will not be making any further comment as this matter is under active investigation by the appropriate authorities.”
The announcement is the latest in a string of recent controversies to hit Sinn Fein, particularly within the Belfast council.
Last month, former Belfast Lord Mayor Niall Ó Donnghaile resigned from the party over sending inappropriate texts to a 17-year-old party member.
The ex-councillor resigned from Sinn Fein and the Seanad on October 5 2023.
However, it was not until December 21, 2023 when he announced he was stepping down. At the time, health reasons were cited, with Ms McDonald publicly praising his “diligent” service.
This was despite the party knowing about the messages.
Mary Lou McDonald said she did not tell the Oireachtas the reason for Ó Donnghaile’s sudden departure because she was concerned about his mental health.
Meanwhile, last week the PSNI revealed that it is treating damage caused to a portrait of a former DUP Lord Mayor at Belfast City Hall as a hate crime.
On October 19, the portrait of Wallace Browne was taken down from a wall in the building and its glass was smashed.
The incident happened during an event celebrating 20 years of west Belfast Irish language group Glór na Móna.
Sinn Fein later confirmed that a party member who worked at the Assembly resigned after he “made the party chief whip aware of their involvement in an incident regarding a portrait in Belfast City Hall”.
It subsequently came to light that the individual is the son of a sitting Sinn Fein MLA.
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News Catch Up – Friday 1 November