Sinn Féin defends handling of McMonagle case

Michael McMonagle pleaded guilty in September to a series of child sex offences

A Sinn Féin minister has defended his party’s handling of the case of a former press officer investigated for child sex offences.

The party has faced questions over how Michael McMonagle was able to take up a position at a charity after being dismissed from the party while under police investigation.

McMonagle, from Limewood Street in Londonderry, admitted a series of offences earlier this month, including attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity.

Two other Sinn Féin press officers - Seán Mag Uidhir and Caolán McGinley - resigned last week after it emerged they had provided job references for the role at the British Heart Foundation.

Stormont’s Economy Minister Conor Murphy said it was “inexplicable” the references were provided and Sinn Féin only became aware of it last Wednesday.

“No one was informed, no permission was sought, no advice was sought in relation to dealing with it,” he told BBC News NI.

Murphy said the first the party became aware of the references was last Wednesday following a media enquiry

After McMonagle was first arrested in August 2021 he informed the party, was suspended from his job, and later his contract of employment ended.

He took up a position in the British Heart Foundation in September 2022.

The charity said neither of the job references "raised a concern about his suitability for employment or referenced an ongoing police investigation or suspension from his previous employment".

'Inexplicable'

Murphy said the first the party became aware of the references was last Wednesday following a media enquiry.

“We established the fact that this was provided without anyone's knowledge, with no clearance sought nor given from the party. In fact, we wouldn't have given clearance for such a reference to be provided,” he said.

“The party then initiated an investigation, which may have involved disciplinary proceedings in relation to it, and the two individuals involved resigned on Saturday morning."

He added: "The fact is that it's inexplicable as to why the reference was provided. The only people who can answer that are the two people who provided the reference."

'We did not know'

Murphy said the party had “no more dealings” with McMonagle following his suspension.

He was asked why Sinn Féin did not raise issues with the British Heart Foundation about McMonagle’s subsequent employment, which involved attending events at Stormont.

In response, the minister said they could not do anything which could “potentially be prejudicial” to the police investigation.

“We are not involved in the investigation. We are not involved in advising anyone in relation to the investigation. That is a matter for the police,” he said.

Pressed again on Sinn Féin not alerting the charity, Murphy responded: "Seriously, the BBC asking me these types of questions."

He added: “We have a legal responsibility not to interfere with the police investigation. We had no contact with that person afterwards. We did not know what he was doing or anything more about him.”

Neither Seán Mag Uidhir nor Caolán McGinley have yet made comment.

'Concerned'

Ulster Unionist leader Mike Nesbitt said he was "very disturbed" by reports that the British Heart Foundation was not informed by Sinn Féin about McMonagle being under investigation by police.

He was speaking in the Stormont assembly in response to a question from Social Democratic and Labour Party assembly member Colin McGrath.

The Ulster Unionist Party minister said: "I am aware of that report, and I am concerned by it.

"I do think common sense needs to prevail, and people need to recognise that there are occasions when these things need to be reported and put up-front."