MARY LOU MCDONALD and Michelle O’Neill have apologised on behalf of Sinn Féin over the actions of two former party press officers who provided references for Michael McMonagle.
The Sinn Féin president said she has asked the incoming general secretary to “immediately initiate a complete overhaul of governance procedures” within the party, adding that it will do “everything necessary to ensure that an incident like this never arises again”.
McMonagle was arrested in August 2021 following an investigation into child sex offences. He was working as a press officer for Sinn Féin at the time of his arrest, and was subsequently suspended when the party learned of the investigation.
He later found employment in the communications department of the British Heart Foundation (BHF). Two of his former colleagues in the Sinn Féin press office, Séan Mag Uidhir and Caoloán McGinley, provided employee references for McMonagle.
McMonagle was suspended from the charity in July 2023, when the BHF learned of the investigation.
On 23 September of this year, McMonagle pleaded guilty to 14 charges, which included attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity. He will be sentenced in November.
There have been some apparent irregularities in accounts given about who in the party knew about the references provided and when, and why they did not inform BHF that McMonagle had been under police investigation.
In a statement this evening, Mary Lou McDonald apologised “for the distress” caused by the party’s handling of the matter.
The Sinn Féin President said she was made aware on 25 September that two of the party’s staff members had provided job references to McMonagle, and subsequently took “decisive action”.
Decisive action taken to ensure full accountability - @MaryLouMcDonald https://t.co/6pcSgET5QA
— Sinn Féin (@sinnfeinireland) October 7, 2024
“I am shocked that anyone would have given him a reference, given the serious allegations and subsequent charges that he faced. This is unforgivable and absolutely unacceptable to me. This was done without consultation with the party,” she said.
“Those who gave references in this case were guilty of gross misconduct, they no longer work for the party and are no longer members of the party.”
McDonald said she is “disgusted” by McMonagle’s crimes and affirmed that he was “immediately suspended from the party and his employment when he was questioned by the PSNI in 2021, as required by our child protection and HR procedures”.
She said she has asked the party’s incoming general secretary to “immediately initiate a complete overhaul of governance procedures” within Sinn Féin.
We will do everything necessary to ensure that an incident like this never arises again. The General Secretary will take external professional advice in this work.
“I will ensure that there are clear processes so that there are no grey areas whatsoever where an individual has been suspended or ends their employment with Sinn Féin, to ensure that there are no future issues in relation to handing back work passes and to make absolutely clear that references cannot be provided by individual members of staff.”
McDonald also said she “deeply regrets” that the British Heart Foundation has been caught up “in an issue not of their making”.
“They do incredibly important work and I look forward to continuing our work with them now and in the future,” she continued.
“I apologise for the distress that has been caused by these events. I am committed to ensuring that an incident like this is never repeated again.”
The statement comes after Michelle O’Neill apologised for the matter while facing questions from MLAs over the controversy in the Stormont Assembly.
Addressing the Assembly, the Northern Ireland First Minister said: “On Wednesday, 25 September, 2024, Sinn Féin and I were informed the two press officers who were former colleagues of Michael McMonagle had provided employment references for him.
“And I am absolutely appalled and horrified that that occurred.
“These references were given without the knowledge or authorisation of the party, and under no circumstances would the party have provided a reference for work or for otherwise for McMonagle.
“The party took immediate action against both individuals and their actions constituted gross misconduct, which would result in their dismissal.
“But as the party process was ongoing, both individuals resigned their positions and terminated their party membership with immediate effect on Saturday, 28 September.
“So on behalf of Sinn Féin, I apologise for the hurt and the distress caused by their actions.”
The Assembly has confirmed that McMonagle was employed by O’Neill and three other Sinn Féin MLAs across two periods when his salary was paid for by Assembly allowances provided from the public purse.
McMonagle was paid out of O’Neill’s staffing allowance between March and May 2020 at a time when she was Stormont deputy First Minister.
Parties are able to hire staff either from funds provided to them centrally or from the staffing allowances allocated to individual MLAs.
O’Neill said both the press officers lost their jobs and were no longer members of the party, adding that she apologised for the hurt and distress caused by their actions.
She also insisted that everything she does in her role as First Minister is guided by a commitment to “robust child protection and safeguarding policies”.
O’Neill also apologised to the charity for damage caused to its reputation.
Fearghal McKinney, head of the BHF in Northern Ireland, said they were dismayed when their due diligence appeared to have been questioned.
He previously spoke to O’Neill about the situation, which he said caused “enormous distress and anxiety” for the charity’s staff.
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