Northern Ireland

Sinn Féin has been given a £1.5 million donation from deceased party supporter

Sinn Fein Mary Lou McDonald and Michelle O'Neill join Picture Mal McCann.
Sinn Fein Mary Lou McDonald and Michelle O'Neill join Picture Mal McCann.

Sinn Féin has been given a £1.5 million donation, according to the Electoral Commission.

The money was given to the party by William E Hampton and was paid in two instalments of £1m and £500,000 in April and May this year.

There is no more information provided about Mr Hampton on the Electoral Commission website.

A Sinn Féin spokesperson said: "Sinn Féin can confirm that it received a significant donation from a party supporter who passed away.

"We're obviously pleased that he has chosen to bequest this sum to the party and it's a positive boost to Sinn Féin in working towards Irish unity and towards our political objectives.

"We are in full compliance with the requirements of the Electoral Commission on all of this."

Overall, other political parties in Northern Ireland received almost £338,000 in donations between April and June 2019.

Legislation introduced in March allows donations and loans of more than £7,500 to parties in Northern Ireland to be revealed. The law covers donations made to parties from 1 July 2017 onwards.

The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) was previously recorded as receiving the largest political donation given to a political party in Northern Ireland.

In June 2016, a pro-Brexit organisation known as the Constitutional Research Council (CRC) gave £435,000 to the DUP.

Party Total reported Donations accepted (excl. public funds) Public funds accepted Total accepted
Alliance - Alliance Party of Northern Ireland £26,903 - £19,403 £19,403
Democratic Unionist Party - D.U.P. £157,612 - £152,737 £152,737
Green Party £11,712 - £11,712 £11,712
People Before Profit Alliance £11,135 - £4,414 £4,414
SDLP (Social Democratic & Labour Party) £27,564 - £27,564 £27,564
Sinn Féin. £1,591,696 £1,500,000 £91,696 £91,696
Traditional Unionist Voice - TUV £13,717 - £6,886 £6,886
Ulster Unionist Party £25,561 £2,000 £23,561 £25,561
Total £1,865,900 £1,502,000 £337,973 £1,839,973