Sinn Féin has come under fire for failing to reclaim a security pass from and inform the Northern Ireland Assembly Commission about the arrest of a former press officer who was convicted of child sex offences. This lack of action meant Michael McMonagle, the said former press officer, had potential access to Stormont Parliament Buildings up until recently, over two years post his departure from Sinn Féin and despite his admission of the charges.
The 42-year-old from Derry’s Limewood Street was found guilty last week of inciting a minor to engage in sexual activity and making twelve attempts at sexually communicating with a child throughout 2020 and 2021.
Sinn Féin took no action to retrieve Stormont’s security pass from McMonagle, a convicted paedophile and ex-employee. In August 2021, after his arrest, McMonagle was suspended from Sinn Féin and he subsequently left the party after his contract concluded in June 2022.
Seán Mag Uidhir and Caolán McGinley, prominent figures in Sinn Féin’s media operation, resigned recently after it was revealed they had supplied references for McMonagle. Michelle O’Neill, the First Minister, expressed her shock and horror at their actions.
Politicians, both northern and southern, have intensified their demands for Sinn Féin to answer questions concerning their handling of the issue. Simon Harris, the Taoiseach, demanded transparency stating “We need to know who knew what, when and where. I don’t think what we’ve heard to date about I didn’t know this, or I didn’t see that, is credible.”
In response, the Assembly Commission – the Northern Ireland Assembly’s corporate body – confirmed that McMonagle had been in Sinn Féin’s employment on two separate occasions: from May through October 2014 and again from March 2020 to July 2022.
Assembly passes are typically granted as either passes for staff of the Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) or party staff. It is the responsibility of the party or MLA employer to return the pass when the holder ceases employment, however, this did not happen in this instance.
The case in question revolves around Michael McMonagle, against whom complaints have been lodged. The Assembly Commission claims that it was not notified regarding any allegations made against him, his suspension or a request to null or suspend his pass. Following recent developments, the Commission rescinded Mr McMonagle’s pass on 1st October 2024.
Sinn Féin has been approached for their remarks on the issue, but it remains uncertain if McMonagle still had the pass or utilised it to enter Parliament Buildings between June 08, 2022 – the date the Commission stated he severed ties with Sinn Féin – and the recent cancellation of his pass.
The Assembly retains information from its Visitor Management System for a span of 90 days. It was ascertained that the specific pass has not been utilised during that time. The commission added that McMonagle used a single-day visitor pass to visit the Great Hall on February 14th, 2023. Images have surfaced of him near Ms O’Neill at a fundraiser for a young organ donation activist, in his former capacity as a representative of the British Heart Foundation.
Sinn Féin has faced backlash for failing to inform the charity of McMonagle’s subsequent arrest or the ongoing police investigation. Naomi Long, the Minister for Justice for the North, questioned Sinn Féin’s actions and stated they must reassess whether their actions were right or wrong. Gavin Robinson, the leader of the DUP, denounced Sinn Féin for “trying to quash the story” and stated that they ought to satisfy the public with their responses.