Cahill criticises Sinn Fein leader’s ‘rebel with cause’ claim over £1.5m benefactor

SINN Fein president Mary Lou McDonald has been criticised after she said the Englishman who left £1.5m to the party in his will was a “rebel with a cause”.

Billy Hampton, who died last year in Wales aged 82, was living in a mobile home when he made a will leaving the substantial gift to Sinn Fein.

It is understood to be the largest ever known donation made to a political party in Northern Ireland.

Ms McDonald said the money was bequeathed to Sinn Fein “within all of the rules and regulations and will be spent within the rules and regulations”.

“I did not know Billy Hampton but judging from people who did know him he considered this to be a very robust statement against the political establishment.

“He obviously saw in Sinn Fein an organisation that is full square for Irish unity, for progress and for peace and prosperity in Ireland but also a party that stands full square against the political establishment,” Ms McDonald added.

“I can only say Billy was a rebel, a rebel with a cause.

“He clearly shared our goals.” Ms McDonald said it would be “inappropriate to comment” on whether Mr Hampton had mental health issues.

She was speaking at the party’s annual away-day in Dundalk, Co Louth.

Sinn Fein critic Mairia Cahill (left), whose uncle and former IRA leader Joe Cahill was listed as one of the two executors and trustees of the will , said Ms McDonald’s comments were “disgraceful”.

Ms Cahill said Hampton “was no rebel with a cause”.

“He was a very vulnerable individual who writes himself that Sinn Fein wanted nothing to do with him after he wrote that will ‘for security reasons’,” she tweeted.

“He was used, pure and simple.”