STEPHEN Nolan has issued an on-air apology after mixing up which charity a convicted child-sex offender and former Sinn Féin official had worked for.
The BBC broadcaster had been covering news that two Sinn Féin officers had resigned over the weekend for providing references to Michael McMonagle to take a job with the British Heart Foundation.
Mr Nolan mistakenly said McMonagle had worked for Northern Ireland Chest Heart and Stroke before clarifying.
“The Northern Ireland Chest Heart & Stroke Association has been in touch with us asking for a further clarification and apology from me,” he told listeners.
“To clarify (the charity) were mentioned by mistake, have no association with the story around Michael McMonagle.
“I am happy to apologise, I am sorry and it is the British Heart Foundation which Mr McMonagle went to work for.”
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He added: “It was the British Heart Foundation who did not know about what McMonagle had been arrested for.
“Obviously there are more questions about Sinn Féin, to Sinn Féin, which we’re trying to get clarity for you.”
Earlier this month, McMonagle had admitted a series of offences including attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity.
On Saturday, Sinn Féin press officers Sean Mag Uidhir and Caolan McGinley resigned for providing him with references.
The party has said the references were provided without approval from the party and were “unacceptable and wrong.”
They added that the references were provided three months after McMonagle was dismissed from the party while under police investigation, with the party only becoming aware of their existence last week.
