Sinn Fein officials resign over job references for convicted child sex offender

https://www.belfastlive.co.uk/news/two-sinn-fein-officials-resign-30033542

Two Sinn Fein officials have resigned for giving references to Michael McMonagle who admitted last week to child sex offences, it has emerged.

McMonagle, a former press officer with the Republican party from Limewood Street in the Bogside area of Derry, faced various charges of attempting to sexually communicate with children for the purpose of obtaining sexual gratification.

He also faced one charge of attempting to incite a girl under the age of 13 to engage in sexual activity and one charge of attempting to incite another female child under the age of 16 to engage in a sex act. He’s alleged to have committed the offences on dates between May 2020 and August 2021.

The 42-year-old pleaded guilty to 14 of the 15 offences at Derry Crown Court last week. The hearing was then adjourned for sentencing until November 8.

Now it has emerged that press officers Sean Mag Uidhir and Caolan McGinley stood down on Saturday during the party's Ard Fheis in Athlone, Co Westmeath, after it emerged they provided McMonagle with unsanctioned references following his arrest in 2021.

McMonagle subsequently got a job as a press officer with the British Heart Foundation.

In a statement at the weekend Sinn Fein said: “The references were not provided by, or on behalf of Sinn Fein. Permission was not sought, nor would it have been given from the party for the provision of these references or their content.

"Sinn Fein became aware on Wednesday, September 25 that these references had been provided. In view of the serious nature of this revelation, Sinn Fein undertook an immediate internal process. Before this process concluded, both press officers resigned from their positions and party membership with immediate effect.

"The two press officers resigned on Saturday, September 28."