The Sinn Fein member at the centre of a controversy surrounding inappropriate text messages sent to a teenager is heavily involved in the GAA.
The republican party is refusing to say if it informed the GAA that it suspended its former member after receiving a complaint about the text messages.
It did confirm the individual resigned from the party subsequent to an internal investigation. It also alerted police and social services in Northern Ireland, but the PSNI did not investigate as the young person did not want to make a formal complaint.
The text messages are believed to have been personal and physical in nature, but not sexually explicit.
Since leaving Sinn Fein, the individual has remained involved in the GAA as a senior member of a club with underage teams.
The party’s press office would not respond to questions seeking to establish what, if any, action the party took after the former member left and continued to work with the GAA.
The revelations come amid the fallout from the conviction of former party press officer Michael McMonagle.
Michael McMonagle
Last week, Michelle O’Neill apologised after it emerged two other press officers wrote references for McMonagle so he could get a communications job with the British Heart Foundation.
Yesterday, the Irish Independent revealed a Sinn Fein member resigned from the party for sending inappropriate messages to a teenager.
The individual was a long-serving party member and comes from a well-known republican family. The member has worked on both sides of the border for Sinn Fein.
In a statement, a spokesman for the party said: “Sinn Fein received a complaint on September 11 2023 regarding messages sent by a party member to a 17-year-old member of the party.
“In line with the party’s child protection guidelines the person concerned was suspended. The matter was immediately referred to the PSNI and social services.
“On September 27, the PSNI informed the party they were not carrying out a formal investigation into the matter and indicated support for the actions the party had taken both from their perspective and that of the young person’s family.
“The individual subsequently resigned.”
It comes as Sinn Fein comes under increased scrutiny over how it handled the Michael McMonagle controversy.
Last month, McMonagle admitted a series of offences, including attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity.
The Committee for the Executive Office at Stormont said it is seeking legal advice on what basis it can invite First Minister Michelle O’Neill back to answer more questions related to the scandal.
by heresmewhaa
5 comments
Again, choosing to protect pedos instead of safeguaring children?!
Wonder what the excuse is this time
I’ve not been following these stories (or much of any news) recently but I’m just confused by what I’ve seen of them. Surely one employer can’t get in touch with new employers or personal commitment organisations about this type of stuff? Wouldn’t they be making themselves liable? Aren’t HR matters like that protected by GDPR?
At the very least, I would have assumed it isn’t that employer’s responsibility beyond reporting to the police and social services like SF did. Are they supposed to keep tabs on old staff members for life?
Obviously any covering up or whatever should be questioned, and the people who gave references are horrible, but I’m so confused by the idea that Sinn Fein needed to let anyone’s new employer/the GAA know about any of it, especially in this circumstance where the PSNI said no investigation was being done. Am I missing something?
do they think sinn féin are in charge of that local gaa club
More whataboutery.
The most important thing is people who are a danger are dealt with within the framework and all that parties and organisations realise they have a duty of care to protecting children and vunerable adults regardless of who they are or what they profess. I feel like this is more about point scoring against other sides right now
So he was thrown out of the party and they reported him to the cops and social services. What else were they supposed to do exactly?