Michelle O’Neill has been told she “needs to go to Specsavers” after saying she didn't see sex offender Michael McMonagle at Stormont last year – despite being stood feet away from him.
Pressure continues to pile on Sinn Fein over the scandal, with demands for the party to reveal all it knows about the matter.
As a series of Executive Ministers called for answers, TUV leader Jim Allister said Sinn Fein was now in a “totally indefensible position”.
“It seems that Michelle O’Neill needs to go to Specsavers," he told the Belfast Telegraph.
“She said she didn’t see someone that was one of her press officers and no one believes that – she really has to bridge that credibility gap."
As DUP leader Gavin Robinson accused Sinn Fein of trying to shut the story down, Taoiseach Simon Harris called for Mary Lou McDonald to address the matter, saying the developments were “deeply disturbing”.
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McMonagle (42), of Limewood Street in Londonderry, pleaded guilty last week to a series of sex offences, including attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity.
He was first arrested by police in August 2021 and was subsequently suspended by Sinn Fein, before taking up a job with the British Heart Foundation (BHF) in September 2022 — a job he got with two references from Sinn Fein press officers Sean Mag Uidhir and Caolan McGinley.
Mr Mag Uidhir and Mr McGinley resigned from their jobs last weekend when news of their references came to light.
Last night the BHF issued an update, saying it had acted appropriately.
A spokesperson said: "As a matter of good practice, the BHF reviewed the recruitment process for the individual after we learned of the criminal charges against him. We are confident that our recruitment process of this individual was robust and in line with standard practice.
A picture has emerged showing Ms O’Neill and her adviser John Loughran standing feet away from McMonagle at a February 2023 event at Stormont. The image emerged hours after the First Minister said she was not aware of his presence in Parliament Buildings.
A second image also shows Sinn Fein junior minister Aisling Reilly standing close to McMonagle at the same event.
At a Stormont committee earlier this week, TUV MLA Timothy Gaston tried to ask Ms Reilly if she saw McMonagle at the event and if she could “detail what your interaction was with Michael McMonagle on that day”.
Ms O’Neill, however, who was sitting next to her junior minister at the meeting, interjected and the exchange was soon shut down.
Mr Gaston subsequently alleged Ms Reilly had been “shielded” from answering his questions.
On Wednesday, Ms O’Neill said she was “aghast and horrified” after learning about the references Mr Mag Uidhir and Mr McGinley provided for McMonagle.
Sinn Fein has faced questions as to why it did not alert the BHF that McMonagle was under police investigation.
Both Ms O’Neill and Economy Minister Conor Murphy said it was not the party’s responsibility to inform the charity, stating it could have prejudiced the police investigation.
Yet PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boutcher has disputed this, saying he could not see how passing on such information would have harmed the investigation.
Yet PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boutcher has disputed this, saying he could not see how passing on such information would have harmed the investigation.
Mr Allister said Sinn Fein should have warned the BHF of the allegations against McMonagle.
“They should’ve said very clearly to the British Heart Foundation: ‘We cannot recommend this person because of the charges he’s been investigated for’,” he said.
Mr Robinson, meanwhile, said Sinn Fein still has questions to answer regarding the controversy.
“I think it is clear to see that, from the outset, [Sinn Fein] tried to shut the story down,” he said.
“I think, over the last number of days, you can see that there are new questions emerging and answers that really aren’t satisfying people.
“When you consider safeguarding, and the safety of children particularly, it is crucially important.
“So, where there still are questions to be answered, they should be answered fully and satisfactorily.”
Justice Minister Naomi Long said: “I do think that there are questions that Sinn Fein should be asking themselves and questions that they have to answer – in terms of, for example, why they didn’t report to a new employer that the individual in question was under investigation.”
Mr Harris said that Ms McDonald should address the issue in the Dail.
"I'd be very clear on this, that this is a matter that should be above party politics. It should be above political back and forth," Mr Harris said on Friday.
"This is a matter about child protection.
"It's a matter about child abuse, and it's a matter about making sure we all hold our own organisations to the same standards that we hold other organisations to.”
Sinn Fein has been contacted for comment.
Meanwhile, the Assembly has confirmed it was not informed about McMonagle’s suspension, and his wages were paid for out of the public purse.
The Assembly said McMonagle was employed by a number of MLAs between May and October 2014, and again between March 2020 and July 2022.
A payroll service is provided to MLAs by the Assembly Commission through which they pay their staff, who are employed directly by the MLAs.
The Assembly also told the News Letter it was not asked at any time to suspend or cancel the pass McMonagle had to access Stormont.
Given that nobody was aware he had been suspended, officials would have had no reason to stop him entering the building if he used his access pass. It is unclear if he used the pass to access Parliament Buildings after his suspension.
An Assembly spokesperson said: “Between March 2020 and July 2022, Michael McMonagle’s employment costs were recovered under the employing MLAs’ support staff costs within the relevant Assembly Members’ (Salaries and Expenses) Determination.
During his latter period of employment, McMonagle would have been paid between £23,490 and £37,180 a year.
They added: “MLAs are not required to notify the Assembly Commission about employment matters, unless those matters are relevant to payroll services.
“It follows that the Assembly Commission was not made aware of Michael McMonagle’s suspension as an employee of an MLA, nor the reason for it.”
by Opposite-Island-6405
5 comments
Apologies, link to the article is supposed to come before the text
“totally indefensible position” Jim. Like that time you eulogised Davy Tweed, the evil paedophile who terrorised and abused people he was supposed to love?
Talk about mountain out of a mole hill
Absolutely well said Jim. Michelle needs an eye test!
I fail to see how a political leader not take note of a press officer at some political function is in anyway an indictment.