Calls grow for Mary Lou McDonald to make Dáil statement about former party press officer Micheal McMonagle last month admitted a series of offences, including attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity. Calls Continue to grow for Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald to address the Dáil on controversy surrounding former party press officer Michael McMonagle.

McMonagle was arrested in August 2021 following an investigation into child sex offences.

Last month he admitted a series of offences, including attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity and will be sentenced in November.

This morning, the Labour Party backed calls from Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil for McDonald to come before the Dáil, as did People Before Profit. 

A letter from Fine Gael TD Jennifer Carroll MacNeill and Fianna Fáil TD Anne Rabbitte called for the Ceann Comhairle to make time available for McDonald to address the Dáil on “this specific and important matter”.

The letter called for the Dáil to be adjourned in a similar manner to that of the Stormont Assembly, where Sinn Féin vice president and Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O’Neill was questioned on the controversy yesterday.

O’Neill yesterday apologised at the Northern Ireland Assembly, saying she was “absolutely appalled and horrified” by what had happened. 

“On behalf of Sinn Féin, I apologise for the hurt and distressed caused by [the] actions [of the two party press officers]” she said. 

The letter from Carroll MacNeill and Rabbitte said the “governing arithmetic of the day should not absolve any party in the House from their responsibilities”.