The Sinn Féin staff members that provided work references for an ex-colleague who was being investigated for child sex offences acted “unilaterally, irresponsibly and despicably”, Mary Lou McDonald has said.
Sinn Féin has promised to overhaul its governance structures after the incident, which Deputy McDonald has today described as ‘unacceptable’.
It emerged in recent weeks that former Sinn Féin press officer Michael McMonagle was given work references by two of his former colleagues after he informed the party that he was under investigation for serious child sex offences.
He then used those references to secure a position as Communications Manager for the British Heart Foundation.
He has since pleaded guilty to 14 charges, including attempted sexual communication with a child and attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity.
Sinn Féin has said it became aware of the work references two days after his guilty plea, with the two men who gave them resigning with immediate effect.
In the weeks since, however, considerable questions have been raised regarding the party leadership's handling of the affair – and why Deputy Leader Michelle O’Neill did not raise concerns about Mr McMonagle’s attendance at a British Heart Foundation event at Stormont long after he had been suspended by Sinn Féin.
Ms O’Neill has said she was not aware he was in attendance; however, images of her standing just metres away from him at the event have emerged in recent days.
On The Pat Kenny Show, Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said Mr McMonagle has now pleaded guilty to the “most serious of crimes” and will now face the full rigours of the law.
She said Sinn Féin did “everything by the book” when the investigation first came to light – and insisted her party leadership had no way of knowing that the work references had been handed out.
“I have to be honest with you, for the life of me, I cannot explain to you or account to you how anybody - any rational, sane, decent person - could have considered giving him any form of reference for anything,” she said.
“Not alone did these two individuals act without any authority - they acted unilaterally, irresponsibly and despicably, in my view - but they let that situation sit.
“As the allegations then became charges and as the case deepened - and bear in mind, there was media commentary as to how this was proceeding - at no stage did either individual come forward after the fact to say, ‘Look, hands up, we gave these references we shouldn't have.’”
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