The First Minister, Michelle O’Neill, has expressed her shock and horror upon discovering that two press officers from Sinn Féin had given references for a previous co-worker who was later found guilty of child sexual offences. Despite the controversy surrounding her management of the situation, Ms O’Neill insists that she took immediate action upon learning about it last week.
She was deeply distressed by their behaviour and firmly stated it was a mistake that should never have transpired. She expressed no doubt about the matter being entirely inappropriate and shared that if she was consulted beforehand, she would have most definitely denied permission. She regards their act as a serious wrongdoing.
It was revealed that two of the party’s media operators, influential strategist Seán Mag Uidhir and Caolán McGinley, tendered their resignations recently after the demise of Michael McMonagle came to light.
The offender, a 42-year-old man named Michael McMonagle from Limewood Street, Derry, confessed to two instances of attempting to solicit a youngster to participate in a sexual act, along with twelve attempted sexual conversations with a minor throughout 2020 and 2021.
Following his arrest in August 2021, McMonagle was asked to step down from his position within the Sinn Féin press office. He was then recruited as the communications and engagement manager for the British Heart Foundation in Belfast during September 2022. His offences came to the public’s notice in July last year as revealed by the Sunday World newspaper.
The individual started his role in September 2022, given two favourable professional references. None of these references hinted at any ongoing police investigation or his suspension from previous employment. Sinn Féin revealed last week they were unaware that two of Michael McMonagle’s previous co-workers had given him references three months after his employment with them had ended, and these references were given without the party’s approval.
Sinn Féin began an immediate internal investigation following this revelation. However, both press officers resigned from their positions and party membership before the operation could be finished. McMonagle was suspended from both his role in Sinn Féin and his job as a press officer on August 20, 2021, and his employment contract ended formally in June 2022.
Sinn Féin leader, Ms. O’Neill, faced queries from reporters and at an Executive Office meeting on Wednesday concerning her attendance at an event in Stormont in February 2023. The event, organised by the British Heart Foundation, was geared to support organ donation campaigner Daíthí Mac Gabhann and was attended by McMonagle. Brian Kingston, DUP MLA, interrogated whether it would have been suitable for Sinn Féin to have informed the British Heart Foundation about Mr McMonagle’s suspension from Sinn Féin due to serious allegations before he assumed his new role.
The First Minister responded that she was unaware of any details regarding Michael McMonagle’s location or job situation. When it comes to police investigations, she affirmed that the police must do their job. She stated that any due diligence necessary for a new employment opportunity is the responsibility of the prospective employer if a former worker applies for another job.
Earlier this Wednesday, attempts to discuss McMonagle’s situation by Fine Gael TDs were considered irregular in Dáil. Taoiseach Simon Harris subsequently vaguely alluded to the situation, stating that he wouldn’t take any “sanctimonious child protection sermons” from Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald, in response to her criticism of Budget 2025 lacking proposals for scoliosis treatments.
Ciarán Cannon of Fine Gael TD had requested that time be allocated for Ms. McDonald “to discuss publicly the issue of child abuse carried out by a member of Sinn Féin and the provision of character references for this person by deputy McDonald’s team, confirming the urgency of these questions to be addressed and resolved swiftly.”
However, Ceann Comhairle Seán Ó Fearghaíl declared him offbeat and noted that the agenda for the week had been previously planned.