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Sinn F\u00e9in has been left a \u00a31.5 million (\u20ac1.66m) donation in the will of a party supporter.<\/p>\nSinn F\u00e9in has been left a \u00a31.5 million (\u20ac1.66m) donation in the will of a party supporter.<\/p>\n
The money was given to the party by William E Hampton and was paid in two instalments of \u00a31 million (\u20ac1.1m) and \u00a3500,000 (\u20ac552k) in April and May.<\/p>\n
A source close to Sinn F\u00e9in told the PA news agency that Mr Hampton, who was born in London, died on January 11 2018 at his home in Pembrokeshire, Wales, at the age of 82.<\/p>\n
Mr Hampton, who was not married and had no children, left some money to friends and acquaintances, but the main beneficiary of the will was the Irish republican party.<\/p>\n
It is understood that he spent some time living in Ireland and was a long-time supporter of the party.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was not Irish, he was listed as British on his birth certificate, and his birthplace is listed as London,\u201d a party source said.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was a known supporter of Sinn F\u00e9in, and resided in Ireland at different periods.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe made the will himself, and had it drawn up a few years ago, he\u2019s obviously been a supporter a long time and planned ahead.\u201d<\/p>\n
It is understood that Mr Hampton had assets in other jurisdictions, which are still being litigated over, but the main assets were in England and Wales.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe party have known about him for a long time and it wasn\u2019t exactly new information to the party as the will had been made a few years before,\u201d the party source added.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe death, however, came out of the blue and was unexpected. The death certificate said he died of respiratory failure, and he was quite frail and elderly, so it was probably old age.\u201d<\/p>\n
His career history lists Mr Hampton as a retired motor mechanic and driver.<\/p>\n
The contribution is the largest donation given to a political party in Northern Ireland.<\/p>\n
A Sinn F\u00e9in spokesman said: \u201cSinn F\u00e9in can confirm that it received a significant donation from a party supporter who passed away.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re obviously pleased that he has chosen to bequest this sum to the party and it\u2019s a positive boost to Sinn F\u00e9in in working towards Irish unity and towards our political objectives.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are in full compliance with the requirements of the Electoral Commission on all of this.\u201d<\/p>\n
Other political parties in Northern Ireland received almost \u00a3338,000 (\u20ac373k) in donations between April and June.<\/p>\n
The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) had previously held the record for the largest donation after a pro-Brexit group known as the Constitutional Research Council donated \u00a3435,000 (\u20ac480k) in June 2016.<\/p>\n
Legislation introduced in March allows donations and loans of more than \u00a37,500 (\u20ac8,277) to parties in Northern Ireland to be made public, and covers donations from July 1 2017 onwards.<\/p>\n