Sinn Fein vice president apologises after references given for ex-employee under investigation for child sex offences

Northern Ireland's archetypal curate Michelle O'Neill has apologised aft 2 Sinn Fein officials provided the British Heart Foundation (BHF) with references for a erstwhile worker who was nether probe for kid enactment offences.

Ms O'Neill, the party's vice president, reiterated her "anger and disgust" that the property officers provided the employment references for 42-year-old Michael McMonagle for a occupation astatine the charity.

Last month, McMonagle, from Limewood Street, Derry, admitted a bid of offences, including attempting to incite a kid to prosecute successful intersexual activity.

McMonagle was archetypal arrested successful August 2021, with Sinn Fein saying it suspended him arsenic soon arsenic it became alert of the constabulary investigation. His employment with the enactment was terminated successful June 2022 erstwhile his declaration ended.

He started moving for the BHF from September 2022.

In a statement, Ms O'Neill said the 2 property officers nary longer enactment for the enactment and are nary longer enactment members.

She besides revealed that the BHF contacted Sinn Fein's erstwhile HR manager successful August 2023 aft media reports of charges against McMonagle, and asked the manager to verify the individuality and email code of the elder property serviceman who had provided the reference.

The HR manager did so, but Ms O'Neill said the interaction was not brought to her attraction oregon to the attraction of the Sinn Fein leadership, which she called "a superior omission".

Ms O'Neill said she was made alert of his suspension and had nary further interaction with him.

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In her connection connected Saturday, she said she was "absolutely appalled and horrified" astir the references fixed by the property officers.

"These references were fixed without the cognition oregon authorisation of the party. Under nary circumstances would the enactment supply a reference, for enactment oregon otherwise, for Michael McMonagle," she said.

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"Michael McMonagle's actions are utterly reprehensible and helium is being held afloat accountable nether the law. His crimes person inflicted important harm connected his guiltless victims. There is thing much reprehensible than the maltreatment of a child."

The BHF said connected Saturday it is assured it undertook "all indispensable statutory and motivation duties required" passim the hiring process.