SDLP joins call for questions over Sinn Féin references
· BBC NewsJessica Lawrence
BBC News NI
First Minister Michelle O'Neill should be questioned in the assembly over references given for a former Sinn Féin press officer who was later convicted of sex offences, the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) leader has said.
Claire Hanna told BBC's Sunday Politics programme that she supported the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader's call for O'Neill to face questions over the controversy.
Michael McMonagle was employed by the British Heart Foundation in September 2022 after references given by former colleagues did not raise concerns about his suitability for employment.
In September McMonagle, of Limewood Street in Londonderry, admitted a series of child sex offences including attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity.
Answers 'not satisfactory'
In a statement from the British Heart Foundation on Saturday, the charity said a senior Sinn Féin official knew last year that references had been provided by two former party press officers for McMonagle.
The references were provided three months after McMonagle was dismissed from the party while under police investigation.
Following the charity's statement, DUP leader Gavin Robinson said it was time for "full transparency", and called for the first minister to make a statement in the Northern Ireland Assembly and take questions.
On Sunday, Hanna said that Sinn Féin had not responded in a "satisfactory way" and should face questions on the assembly floor.
"We have not had any clear chronology from Sinn Féin about the things they knew and when they knew them and crucially what they did to safeguard children because we can’t lose sight of that what this is about," she said.
"It’s also important to say a reputable charity was impugned last week.
"I think it’s appropriate that they’ve had the time and the space to set out the steps that they took which to me seem to be absolutely discharging in their responsibility."
Hanna said, having watched an earlier executive committee, that she does not think "full questioning was even facilitated".
"I don't think all the questions were addressed and I think the floor of the assembly, more and more, should be where we do business pertaining to parties, so I think that would be appropriate."
Who is Michael McMonagle?
McMonagle worked for Sinn Féin for about seven years, first as a policy advisor at Stormont and later as a press officer in the north west, until his arrest in 2021, after which his employment with the party ended.
He was then employed by the British Heart Foundation charity a year later, having received references from two other former Sinn Féin press officers.
The references, provided by Seán Mag Uidhir and Caolán McGinley, raised no "concern about his suitability for employment or referenced an ongoing police investigation or suspension from his previous employment", according to the charity.
Both later resigned after it emerged that they had provided the references without clearance from the party, who condemned their actions.
In September, McMonagle admitted a series of child sex offences.
The offences relate to various dates between May 2020 and August 2021, and include charges of attempting to incite two children to engage in sexual activity.
He is set to be sentenced in November.
What have Sinn Féin said?
Earlier this week, Sinn Féin minister Conor Murphy told BBC News NI the party had only been aware of the references since 25 September 2024.
He also said the party did not warn the British Heart Foundation as it could “potentially be prejudicial” to the police investigation.
However a few days later, Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) chief constable Jon Boutcher contradicted Murphy’s claims and said that he did not see how it would have prejudiced the case.
On Saturday, Michelle O'Neill, Sinn Féin's vice-president and Northern Ireland's first minister, reiterated Murphy's claim that the party leadership was unaware of the references until recently.
She confirmed a human resources manager had been contacted by the charity in August 2023, but added the party's leadership had not been made aware of this.
She described this as "a serious omission".
O'Neill also apologised for the hurt and distress caused by the press officers who provided the references.
“On Wednesday 25 September 2024, Sinn Féin and I were informed that two press officers, who were former colleagues of Michael McMonagle, had provided employment references for him," O'Neill said in a statement.
"I am absolutely appalled and horrified that this occurred," she continued.
"These references were given without the knowledge or authorisation of the party.
"Under no circumstances would the party provide a reference, for work or otherwise, for Michael McMonagle."
In a statement on Saturday, O'Neill added "for the purpose of completeness", that she had also been made aware by staff of an "unrelated issue with an adult female colleague of Michael McMonagle at a non-work related social gathering a number of years ago".
How have political leaders reacted?
Other political figures have criticised Sinn Féin's handling of the case.
Speaking in Dublin on Sunday, Taoiseach (Irish prime minister) Simon Harris called for Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald to "answer the questions legitimately put to her in relation to child protection".
According to the Press Association, Harris added: "If this happened in any other political party or any other organisation, what do you think Deputy Mary Lou McDonald would say?
"She needs to apply that same level of accountability in response to herself that she would apply to anyone else."
On Saturday afternoon, DUP leader Gavin Robinson called for assembly questions over the "Sinn Féin safeguarding scandal", adding it was time for "full transparency".
"Is the truth being hid or is there a total lack of competence?" he questioned. "It's time for honesty."
"With every new revelation undermining a previous Sinn Féin position, this issue requires deeper scrutiny."
Previously, Alliance leader Naomi Long said there are still questions to be answered about McMonagle and questioned if the actions taken by the party were "appropriate".
Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) leader Mike Nesbitt said earlier this week that he was "very disturbed" by reports that the charity had not been informed of McMonagle.
Speaking to BBC Radio Ulster's Nolan Show on Friday, TUV leader and North Antrim MP Jim Allister said Sinn Féin "by their words and their deeds has dug themselves into an indefensible position".