Former Sinn Féin press officer Michael McMonagle to be sentenced for child sex offenses – The Irish News

Former Sinn Féin A spokesman who admitted child sex offenses is due to be sentenced on Friday at Derry Crown Court.

Michael McMonagle (43), of Limewood Street, Derry, faces two counts of attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity and 13 counts of attempting to engage in sexual activity with a child between 2020 and 2021.

McMonagle pleaded guilty to all charges on September 23, having previously denied the charges.

He was also placed on the sex offenders register.

The former Sinn Féin press officer, who previously worked as a journalist, was suspended from the party in 2021 after police arrested him for child sex offences.

Two press attachés resigned from their posts and the party in September after it was revealed they had provided advice to a now convicted child sex offender who subsequently took a job with the British Heart Foundation.

Seán Magh Uidhir, a former newspaper editor, and Caolan McGinley, who once headed Sinn Féin’s youth wing in Derry, resigned after the party said they had provided advice to McMonagle.

Sinn Féin has come under fire for what and when it knew about McMonagle, particularly after the former press officer was photographed attending the same events as Michelle O’Neill and other senior party figures while he was working for the British Heart Foundation .

Ms O’Neill said she was unaware McMonagle had attended a Stormont event organized by the BHF in February last year, despite photographs of both appearing at the event.

The controversy kicked off a series of scandals that have impacted the party in recent months, including an admission by former Lord Mayor of Belfast Niall O Donngail that he sent inappropriate messages to a minor and a disputed claim that north Belfast councilor JJ Magee also sent inappropriate messages . child.