O’Neill ‘aghast’ at Sinn Féin staff’s references for colleague who later admitted sex offences

The North’s First Minister, Michelle O’Neill, has said she is “aghast and horrified” that two Sinn Féin press officers provided a reference for a former colleague who later admitted sex offences.

Seán Mag Uidhir and Caolán McGinley resigned as Sinn Féin press officers on Saturday, days after it emerged they had given references for former colleague Michael McMonagle for a job at a charity in 2022.

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

During an appearance before her scrutiny committee at Stormont, Ms O’Neill said: “I am absolutely aghast and horrified that two former employees decided to give a reference to this individual.

“It would not have happened had they have come and asked for permission, they would not have been given permission.

“It was wrong, absolutely wrong, and should not have happened.”

The Sinn Féin leadership has come under pressure both north and south of the Border to clarify what it knew about the references.

Sinn Féin has said the references were provided without clearance from the party and described the press officers’ actions as “unacceptable and wrong”.

McMonagle was first arrested in August 2021. Sinn Féin has said it suspended him as soon as he became aware of the police investigation.

However, he took up a position with the British Heart Foundation in September 2022. The charity has said it was not made aware that he was facing investigation.

Senior Sinn Féin member Conor Murphy has denied the party had any legal responsibility to make the charity aware of the investigation, stating it could not interfere with a police probe.

While McMonagle was working for the British Heart Foundation, he attended an event at Stormont in February 2023 which was also attended by Sinn Féin vice president Ms O’Neill.

Asked about the event on Wednesday, she said she was not aware that McMonagle was present at an event.

“I attended an event here in this building, like many of you would have attended the event, because of the support for the campaign, and I engaged with the family on that day, and not with anybody who may have been with the British Heart Foundation.”

Taoiseach Simon Harris said it was an issue of child protection and added that he hoped Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald would answer “legitimate questions” on the matter.

Speaking in Dublin, Mr Harris said he did not want to play politics with the issue.

I am sure that the leader of Sinn Fein will do the right thing on this in terms of answering very legitimate, important, fundamental questionsTaoiseach Simon Harris

He added: “There is nothing more important than the safety of our children.

“All of us have to apply the same standards in our organisation that we would demand on the floor of the Dail be applied of others.

“What we are reading and learning in real time is deeply disturbing, deeply disturbing.

“The idea that any individual under investigation for sexual crimes against children would find themselves working in another organisation that has contact with children, without that organisation being aware, is deeply concerning.

“In addition to that, references being provided from a place of employment of the previous person, presumably references of positivity which no-one has seen, and it would be helpful if we did see.”

He added: “This is not an issue in which people should get into pot-shots, it is far too serious for that, it is an issue in relation to how we protect children from sexual predators.

“I am sure that the leader of Sinn Féin (Mary Lou McDonald) will do the right thing on this in terms of answering very legitimate, important, fundamental questions about the protection of the most vulnerable people in society.”

In the Dáil on Wednesday, Fine Gael TDs Ciaran Cannon and Colm Brophy called for Ms McDonald to make a statement in the House.

Mr Cannon said: “I am asking for time to be urgently set aside for Deputy McDonald to make a statement on the issue of child abuse committed by a member of Sinn Féin, and the furnishing of character references for that person by members of Deputy McDonald’s team.

“It’s crucial that these questions are answered in a timely fashion.”

Mr Brophy said the matter is “time sensitive and important, and should be addressed this week”.

During Leaders’ questions in the Dáil, Ms McDonald raised the issue of children with scoliosis requiring surgery and criticised delays in procedures.

Mr Harris told her: “I am finding it hard to take a moralistic lecture on child protection from the leader of the opposition today of all days.

“You might come back to us on that. I can’t ask you a question in this House but there is a function available to you in this House and you should use it because you should apply the same standards yourself as you apply to everybody else.”

McMonagle pleaded guilty to 14 offences of attempted sexual communication with a child and attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity at Derry Crown Court last month.

The offences dated between May 2020 and August 2021.

He is due to be sentenced in November.

The resignation of the two press officers emerged as Sinn Féin was holding its Ard Fheis in Athlone at the weekend.

Neither Mr Mag Uidhir nor Mr McGinley have made any comment.

Mr Mag Uidhir was a senior figure in the party’s organisation in the Northand often appeared at media events with senior figures in the leadership.