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| Sinn Féin press officers resign over McMonagle references | Sinn Féin press officers resign over McMonagle references |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Michael McMonagle pleaded guilty in September to a series of child sex offences | Michael McMonagle pleaded guilty in September to a series of child sex offences |
| Michael McMonagle pleaded guilty in September to a series of child sex offences | Michael McMonagle pleaded guilty in September to a series of child sex offences |
| Published29 September 2024 | Published29 September 2024 |
| Two Sinn Féin press officers have resigned after providing references for a former colleague who was later convicted of sex offences. | Two Sinn Féin press officers have resigned after providing references for a former colleague who was later convicted of sex offences. |
| Seán Mag Uidhir and Caolán McGinley quit at the weekend just days after it emerged the pair had given references for former Sinn Féin press officer Michael McMonagle for a job at a charity. | Seán Mag Uidhir and Caolán McGinley quit at the weekend just days after it emerged the pair had given references for former Sinn Féin press officer Michael McMonagle for a job at a charity. |
| Earlier this month, McMonagle, from Limewood Street in Londonderry, admitted a series of offences, including attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity. | |
| Sinn Féin say the references were provided without clearance from the party and described their actions as wrong and unacceptable. | Sinn Féin say the references were provided without clearance from the party and described their actions as wrong and unacceptable. |
| According to Sinn Féin, the work references were provided three months after McMonagle was dismissed from the party while under police investigation. | According to Sinn Féin, the work references were provided three months after McMonagle was dismissed from the party while under police investigation. |
| “The references were not provided by or on behalf of Sinn Féin," a party spokesperson said. | “The references were not provided by or on behalf of Sinn Féin," a party spokesperson said. |
| “Permission was not sought, nor would it have been given, from the party for the provision of these references or their content." | “Permission was not sought, nor would it have been given, from the party for the provision of these references or their content." |
| The party said it only became aware of the references last week and launched an internal process. | The party said it only became aware of the references last week and launched an internal process. |
| “Before this process concluded, both press officers resigned from their positions and party membership with immediate effect," the spokesperson added. | “Before this process concluded, both press officers resigned from their positions and party membership with immediate effect," the spokesperson added. |
| There has been no comment from Seán Mag Uidhir or Caolán McGinley. | There has been no comment from Seán Mag Uidhir or Caolán McGinley. |
| Former republican prisoner, Seán Mag Uidhir, had been a senior figure within the party and previously worked for the Republican newspaper An Phoblacht. | Former republican prisoner, Seán Mag Uidhir, had been a senior figure within the party and previously worked for the Republican newspaper An Phoblacht. |
| McMonagle was first arrested in August 2021 - he informed the party and was suspended from his job as a press officer at Stormont. | |
| In September 2022, Seán Mag Uidhir and Caolán McGinley provided references for McMonagle for a job with the British Heart Foundation. | |
| The references described McMonagle's work at Sinn Féin. | |
| He pleaded guilty to the child sexual offences in court last week and is due to be sentenced in November. | |
| Related topics | Related topics |
| Sinn Féin | Sinn Féin |
| Northern Ireland | Northern Ireland |