Mary Lou McDonald: McMonagle references 'unacceptable and reprehensible'

The Sinn Féin leader also rejected claims that there was a cover-up culture within parts of the party's organisation

Sinn Fein Leader Mary Lou McDonald: 'For the life of me, I cannot explain to you or account to you how anybody — any rational, sane, decent person could have considered giving him [McMonagle] any form of reference for anything.' File photo: Damien Storan/PA

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald has said the provision of references to former press officer Michael McMonagle by two of his colleagues, when he was under investigation for child sex offences, were "unacceptable and reprehensible".

Responding to a request by Government chief whip Hildegarde Naughton that time be agreed to take a statement from Ms McDonald, the Sinn Féin leader told the Dáil that "swift action" was taken in response to the revelation that the two members gave McMonagle references.

McMonagle, from Limewood St, Derry, last month pleaded guilty to two charges of attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity and 12 counts of attempted sexual communication with a child between 2020 and 2021.

While McMonagle’s employment with Sinn Féin was suspended and then terminated after his arrest in 2021, he received references from two former colleagues for a job with the British Heart Foundation (BHF). 

The BHF was unaware of the investigation into McMonagle during his time employed by the charity.

"The two individuals concerned have lost their jobs. They are no longer members of Sinn Féin and that is as it should be," Ms McDonald said.

She said that "transparency goes both ways" calling on all political parties to take the opportunity to speak on the sanctions they have taken against members who provided references to individuals convicted of rape or child abuse.

Speaking ahead of the Dáil on Tuesday, Fine Gael TD Jennifer Carroll MacNeill said she expected the Sinn Féin leader to proactively seek the opportunity to make a statement on the matter in the Dáil.

Ms Carroll MacNeill denied claims that Fine Gael are using the situation to score political points ahead of a general election.

"If Sinn Féin cannot manage their own organisation to protect children first and foremost then, I'm very sorry, but we have to address this publicly and we have to address this in an accountability way," she said.

In an earlier interview on Newstalk, Ms McDonald admitted that her party "dropped the ball" over its handling of the controversy.

The Sinn Féin leader said that communications between the BHF and a party HR manager about McMonagle were not “communicated up the chain” and she did not become aware of the references until 11pm on September 25.

“We dropped the ball,” Ms McDonald said on Tuesday, describing it as “an omission and an error”. She also apologised to the BHF for elected Sinn Féin members criticising the charity.

She cited changes in personnel at Sinn Féin's HR department as a reason for why communications from the BHF were missed. “There was an issue around maternity cover and there was churn in the staffing and the management of the function that happened,” Ms McDonald said.

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“This is really what we need to clarify and have absolute certainty on. Even when personnel change and there is that churn, a ball as significant as that shouldn’t be dropped.” 

Ms McDonald, speaking on Newstalk, said that the two former party press officers — Seán Mag Uidhir and Caolán McGinley — acted “unilaterally, irresponsibly, despicably”.

Ms McDonald said:

For the life of me, I cannot explain to you or account to you how anybody — any rational, sane, decent person could have considered giving him [McMonagle] any form of reference for anything.

She said that neither Mr Mag Uidhir or Mr McGinley told Sinn Féin officials about their references as the McMonagle case proceeded through the courts.

Ms McDonald said that the incoming Sinn Féin General Secretary, Sam Baker, would be undertaking a “complete overhaul” of the party’s governance following the controversy.

On McMonagle’s role at the BHF, Ms McDonald said that it didn’t involve him having access to children due to it being a communications role.

However, it was put to her that McMonagle appeared in a photo at Stormont alongside First Minister Michelle O’Neill and child organ donation campaigner Dáithí Mac Gabhann.

Ms McDonald said Ms O’Neill had addressed that matter during questioning in the Northern Ireland Assembly on Monday, where she told members that she did not see McMonagle.

“She didn’t see him, she didn’t acknowledge him,” Ms McDonald said.

Michael McMonagle last month pleaded guilty to two charges of attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity and 12 counts of attempted sexual communication with a child between 2020 and 2021. File photo: PA

Ms McDonald said that she did not believe the situation was reminiscent of the previous controversy over former Sinn Féin councillor and convicted criminal Jonathan Dowdall.

She also rejected claims that there was a cover-up culture within parts of the Sinn Féin organisation, saying such a suggestion is unfair to people within the party.

“If you, as I have, heard the reaction and response within our membership, people who work for the party, people who are members of the party, are absolutely incredulous and absolutely furious that this happened,” Ms McDonald said.

Responding to this morning's interview, Ms Carroll MacNeill said that Ms McDonald spoke more of protecting her party and its members than she did about protecting children.

"What we see with Sinn Féin is not just a spectacular, brutal failure on this occasion but it comes on the back of so many other failures in terms of governance," said Ms Carroll MacNeill.