Elisha McCallion and two other Sinn Féin members resign over Covid relief cash

Sinn Féin senator Elisha McCallion and two party officials have resigned after £10,000 Covid relief grants were paid into three party accounts.

Party leader Mary Lou McDonald said that the leadership had established earlier this week that "three party offices incorrectly received money under the Small Business Grant scheme in the north".

A total of £30,000 was wrongly paid into Sinn Féin accounts in three separate tranches.

Ms McCallion is a former MP for Foyle but was elected as a senator in the Republic in April. A by-election for her seat will now be called.

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"Last night I accepted the resignations of the three individuals responsible for these accounts and for not returning the money - Senator Elisha McCallion, the Chair of Upper Bann Comhairle Ceantair and a party official in West Tyrone," Ms McDonald said. 

[ READ MORE: Pressure on Sinn Féin to explain apparent delay in returning Covid money meant for businessesOpens in new window ]

"The failure to immediately return grants erroneously paid into Sinn Féin accounts is a most serious situation. 

"As party leader I wish to acknowledge and apologise for these failures."

Speaking this afternoon at Stormont, Sinn Féin's leader in the north Michelle O'Neill said that the decision not to return the Covid-19 relief funds was "wrong" and that it should not have happened.

"We have been very clear in saying it was totally unacceptable," Ms O'Neill said.