Michael McMonagle back in prison over chat room breach

Michael McMonagle at an earlier court appearance

The former Sinn Féin press officer Michael McMonagle has been returned to prison after having his licence revoked for being in an online chat room without official permission.

McMonagle, 44, formerly of Limewood Street in Londonderry, was sentenced to 18 months in prison last November for child sex offences, including attempting to incite two children to engage in sexual activity.

Half of that was to be spent in prison and the other nine months on licence.

He was released in August, but has now been given an additional suspended sentence for breaching his Sexual Offences Prevention Order.

The two-month sentence for being in the chat room without permission of his designated risk manager has been suspended for a year.

He pleaded guilty at Limavady Magistrate's Court sitting in Coleraine on Wednesday when the court was told that procedures had begun to revoke his licence and recall him to prison.

That process has now been completed and he has been returned to prison to serve out the remainder of his licence period.

Because he had served two months on licence following his prison release in August, McMonagle faces spending the remaining seven months in custody.

He can apply to the Parole Commissioners for a reduction.