Posted by MARY LOU MCDONALD has described references provided by Sinn Fein staff for a former employee under investigation for child sex cri
mes as “reprehensible and unacceptable.”
The Dail agreed to hold a debate on child protection measures in political parties following a scandal relating to Sinn Fein’s handling of an incident involving a former press officer.Ex-press officer Michael McMonagle, from Limewood Street in Derry, has admitted to a series of offences including attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity. He is due to be sentenced next month.
The creep was first arrested in August 2021 with Sinn Fein suspending him as soon as they became aware of the police investigation.
He formally left his job with the party in June 2022 and went on to get a new gig with the British Heart Foundation who were unaware he was under investigation by police.
Two Sinn Fein press officers provided references to the British Heart Foundation and did not tell the charity about these allegations.In July 2023, the British Heart Foundation found out through a press query about McConagle’s court case and the charity suspended him.
The charity wrote to Sinn Fein’s HR department regarding the fact that British Heart Foundation received two references for a former employee who had been under investigation by police.
Those two press officers have since left their jobs with the party as the Sinn Fein leadership claims it was not aware of the references that were provided to the British Heart Foundation.
In an interview on Newstalk, Mary Lou McDonald said the two press officers who provided the references for McMonagle acted without the party’s authority.
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