The leader of Sinn Féin, Mary Lou McDonald, has announced that the party will initiate a “complete overhaul of governance procedures within the party”.
This comes after it was revealed that two former Sinn Féin employees provided references for a party press officer, Michael McMonagle, who has admitted to several child sex offences and is now awaiting sentencing.
McMonagle was arrested in August 2021 and was suspended by Sinn Féin. His contract expired in June 2022, which is when his employment with the party ended.
The references from his former colleagues didn’t raise any concerns about Mr McMonagle, and the British Heart Foundation then employed him in September 2022, as their communications manager.
First Minister Michelle O’Neill has since said in a statement, that she “was not aware that Michael McMonagle was at this event, and I had no knowledge that he had gained employment with the British Heart Foundation.”
She was also questioned in the Assembly on Monday after an urgent question was submitted by the DUP‘s Diane Dodds.
Speaking in the Assembly she said she is “absolutely and totally committed to ensuring that the strongest and most robust child protection and safeguarding processes and policies are in place.”
The British Heart Foundation suspended McMonagle in July 2023, when he appeared in court, and then contacted a Sinn Féin HR official to investigate how no detail of the investigation was mentioned in the references.
Michelle O’Neill said that the communication between their former HR manager and the British Heart Foundation was not brought to the attention of the party leadership, and admitted that it was “a serious omission.”
Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald says the party “will do everything necessary to ensure that an incident like this never arises again”.
“There must always be accountability for wrongdoing. That is why I took decisive action when I was made aware on Wednesday 25th September 2024 that two staff members had provided job references to Michael McMonagle. Those who gave these references in this case were guilty of gross misconduct and they no longer work for the party and are no longer members of the party. Their actions are unforgivable and absolutely unacceptable to me.”
“I am disgusted by the crimes of Michael McMonagle who is facing the full rigours of the law. He was immediately suspended from the party and his employment when he was questioned by the PSNI in 2021, as required by our child protection and HR procedures.
“The following year two of his co-workers in the Assembly provided references to him. I am shocked that anyone would have given him a reference, given the serious allegations and subsequent charges that he faced. This is unforgivable and absolutely unacceptable to me. This was done without consultation with the party.
“I have asked the incoming General Secretary to immediately initiate a complete overhaul of governance procedures within the party. We will do everything necessary to ensure that an incident like this never arises again. The General Secretary will take external professional advice in this work.
“I will ensure that there are clear processes so that there are no grey areas whatsoever where an individual has been suspended or ends their employment with Sinn Féin, to ensure that there are no future issues in relation to handing back work passes and to make absolutely clear that references cannot be provided by individual members of staff.
“There must always be accountability for wrongdoing. That is why when I was made aware of this issue on Wednesday 25th September 2024 decisive action was taken. Those who gave references in this case were guilty of gross misconduct, they no longer work for the party and are no longer members of the party.
“I deeply regret that the British Heart Foundation has been caught up in an issue, not of their making. They do incredibly important work and I look forward to continuing our work with them now and in the future.
“I apologise for the distress that has been caused by these events. I am committed to ensuring that an incident like this is never repeated again.”
– Mary Lou McDonald, Sinn Féin president
