Michelle O’Neill recalls being ‘prayed over’ as a pregnant 16-year-old

Ms O’Neill also spoke about having had negative experiences with police growing up as the daughter of an ex-republican prisoner.

The Mid-Ulster representative is currently in line to become Northern Ireland’s first non-unionist First Minister. Picture: Brian Lawless

Sinn Féin vice president Michelle O’Neill has recalled being “prayed over” at the Catholic grammar school she attended when she became pregnant at 16.

While she paid tribute to her form teacher at the time, she said not everyone at St Patrick’s Girls’ Academy in Dungannon, Co Tyrone had been as supportive.