The First Minister Michelle O’Neill says she’s “aghast and horrified” that two Sinn Féin press officers gave references to a former colleague who was then under investigation for child sex offices.
The press officers have resigned their party membership and their jobs, one of the pair is top party spin doctor, Seán Mag Uidhir.
Michael McMonagle from Limewood Street in the Bogside area of Derry has now plead guilty to 14 charges despite earlier denials and failing to turn up in court on two occasions.
Sinn Féin suspended McMonagle as soon as they learned of the investigation, but he later gained employment with the British Heart Foundation, having provided references. The Charity suspended him when they discovered that he was being investigated.
The Belfast Telegraph’s Northern Ireland Editor Sam McBride has been following this story, he spoke to Ciarán Dunbar.
Sinn Féin struggles with questions over how party dealt with child sex offender
