Two Sinn Féin press officers have resigned from their posts and the party after it emerged they provided references for a now convicted child sex offender who went on to secure a job with the British Heart Foundation.
Seán Mag Uidhir, a former newspaper editor, and Caolán McGinley, who once headed Sinn Féin’s youth wing in Derry, offered their resignations after the party was told they provided references for Michael McMonagle.
McMonagle (42) of Limewood Street, Derry, last week pleaded guilty before the city’s crown court to two charges of attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity on dates in August 2021.
He also pleaded guilty to 12 counts of attempted sexual communication with a child on various dates in 2020 and 2021. He is due to be sentenced in November.
In response to whether the two named individuals had resigned over providing references for McMonagle, Sinn Fein said on Sunday “that Seán Mag Uidhir and Caolán McGinley are no longer working as press officers”.
Mr Mag Uidhir and Mr McGinley were asked for comment.
In a statement, the party said: “Following a media inquiry, Sinn Féin was made aware that, three months after Michael McMonagle’s employment ended, two former work colleagues were asked for work references in relation to their assessment of his work as a press officer.
“Both provided these references without clearance from Sinn Féin. This was unacceptable and wrong.
“The references were not provided by, or on behalf of, Sinn Féin. Permission was not sought, nor would it have been given from the party for the provision of these references or their content.
“In view of the serious nature of this revelation, Sinn Féin undertook an immediate internal process. Before this process concluded, both press officers resigned from their positions and party membership with immediate effect.”
Mr Mag Uidhir (67) was a long time member of Sinn Féin after spending eight years in the Maze from the mid-1970s to the mid-1980s for IRA activities. He also is a former editor of the North Belfast News.
McMonagle was first arrested on August 19, 2021, while working as a party press officer based in Stormont. According to Sinn Féin he told the party of his arrest and was immediately suspended from his job and the party.
In September 2022, McMonagle secured a job as a communications and engagement manager with the British Heart Foundation. It has been reported that he is no longer employed by the charity.
