Michelle O'Neill apologises over SF references for former employee accused of sex offences

LAST UPDATE | 17 mins ago

MICHELLE O’NEILL HAS apologised on behalf of Sinn Fein for the actions of two former party press officers who provided references for Michael McMonagle, who was accused of sex offences.

McMonagle took up a job at the British Heart Foundation after his employment with Sinn Féin was suspended in 2021 due to the his arrest.

First Minister O’Neill told the Northern Ireland Assembly this afternoon: “On Wednesday, 25 September, 2024, Sinn Fein 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 Fein, 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 Fein 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.

DUP MLA Jonathan Buckley also asked for confirmation about when Sinn Féin notified the Assembly and terminated McMonagle’s Stormont access pass, and whether the Assembly’s safeguarding policy had been compromised.

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.

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.

Last month, McMonagle, 42, from Limewood Street, Derry, admitted a series of offences, including attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity.

Earlier, Fearghal McKinney, head of the BHF in Northern Ireland, said the charity had suffered reputational damage over the matter.

He said the charity was dismayed when their due diligence appeared to have been questioned.

He spoke to O’Neill on Saturday and said she expressed regret over comments she made last week that there were lessons for a lot of people in terms of “due diligence for an employer when they take on an employee”.

“This caused enormous distress and anxiety among our staff and unwavering supporters,” he told the BBC.

“It was quite clear that whenever comments were made about due diligence that there was only one other organisation that employed him since he was employed by Sinn Féin, so clearly there was a reflection on us.”

He said any damage to the charity could undermine their good work.

“When this happened and there was damage caused, as we saw it, to our reputation, added damage we thought around the public comments that were made, we had to do something to make sure that the record was put straight,” he said.

“We’re content that we have done everything in our power in order of keeping all our supporters, all our staff and the wider public that’s connected with us safe, and they know that that’s the standard that the British Heart Foundation applies.”

Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly said she wanted to distance herself from attempts to “put the blame on” the charity.

“I know the charity, they do a huge amount of good work. This is an issue where responsibility must be taken and I hope that there will be very clear openness and honesty about this issue,” she said.