A former Sinn Fein press officer charged with sex offences will be sentenced on November 8 after he pleaded guilty to 14 charges.
Michael McMonagle (42) of Limewood Street in Derry appeared at the crown court where he faced two charges of attempted incitement a child to engage in sexual activity on dates in August 2021.
He was also charged with 12 counts of attempted sexual communication with a child on various dates in 2020 and 2021.
McMonagle pleaded guilty to all charges.
A defence barrister Kieran Mallon KC said they would be seeking pre-sentence report as well as a psychology report.
He said his client had been ‘bail compliant’ and asked that he be re-released to facilitate the preparation of a pre-sentence report.
The barrister added that McMonagle was aware of the sentencing powers of the court.
Judge Neil Rafferty told the defendant that he should co-operate with probation.
He told him he would re-release him on bail but he should not take that as an indication that a non-custodial sentence would follow as it was “likely a custodial sentence would follow”.
McMonagle was ordered to sign the Sex Offender’s Register and the duration of that will be determined at the sentencing hearing.