First Minister Michelle O'Neill is 'damaged' by Belfast City Hall portrait vandalism debacle - DUP leader

The First Minister is under growing pressure to explain why she claimed the man was involved, after lawyers acting for him said the allegations were “entirely false, baseless, and malicious”.

This week, TUV MLA Timothy Gaston named Naoise Ó Cuilin – son of Carál Ní Chuilín MLA – as the former Sinn Fein member in question.

However, his solicitor said he “did not cause any damage whatsoever to the portrait of Lord Wallace Browne” – adding that “any suggestion to the contrary is wholly unfounded”.

This week, the Public Prosecution Service said there was no reasonable prospect of conviction for any criminal offence on the evidence available.

Prosecutors cited a lack of CCTV and witnesses, an inability to secure a list of attendees and a statement from the Sinn Fein chief whip – the only witness evidence available – that the man had “made no admission to being at the event and had denied any knowledge of the damage”.

Days after the incident in October 2024, the first minister told the Assembly that the then-unnamed individual had made Sinn Fein aware of his “involvement in an incident regarding a portrait in Belfast City Hall”.

She informed MLAs that he was “immediately suspended” and that the party had notified police.

DUP leader Gavin Robinson says that the first minister must clarify why she made the comments – saying that her party appears “allergic to any level of transparency or accountability”.

“They have no one to blame but themselves for the fact this issue continues to make headlines.

“Ultimately it is Michelle O’Neill who is most damaged by the entire issue.

“She chose to refer to a former employee and party member’s ‘involvement in an incident regarding a portrait in Belfast City Hall’.

“Having made the statement she needs to either defend it or explain why she misled the Assembly. It’s a simple choice”, the East Belfast MP said.