Sinn Fein’s handling of a series of controversies involving former party members is undermining confidence in Stormont’s powersharing executive, the DUP Education minister has said.
Paul Givan said the party needed to provide “much better answers” to questions relating to how it handled the separate cases of former press officer Michael McMonagle; TD Brian Stanley; and ex-senator Niall O Donnghaile.
The Lagan Valley MLA told the PA news agency it was incumbent on First Minister Michelle O’Neill to come before the Assembly and her Stormont scrutiny committee to face questions about the latest revelations to have emerged in recent days.
Paul Givan said Michelle O’Neill needed to put herself forward to answer more questions from Assembly members (PA)
“I think there’s many more questions now arising, which we need much better answers being provided to, because it is having an impact in terms of where the focus of our Executives should be, it is undermining confidence, and that’s not something that is acceptable,” he said.
“And Sinn Fein need to provide much more transparency and accountability.”
McMonagle, 42, from Limewood Street, Londonderry, last month admitted to a series of offences, including attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity.
It subsequently emerged that two other press officers, who have since resigned from the party, provided job references for McMonagle after Sinn Fein had suspended him amid police inquiries.
The references enabled McMonagle to get a job with the British Heart Foundation (BHF) in 2022, with the charity unaware of the allegations he was facing.
In a further controversy, at the weekend high-profile Sinn Fein TD Brian Stanley quit the party after criticising an internal inquiry into a complaint against him.
The party referred that complaint and a counter-allegation to gardai on Sunday. Details around the allegations have not been made public.
Mr Stanley has rejected the complaint against him and has claimed he was subjected to a “character assassination” by a clique within the party, likening it to a kangaroo court.
Then on Tuesday, former Sinn Fein senator Mr O Donnghaile revealed he had left the party after sending allegedly inappropriate text messages to a teenager.
Sinn Fein referred that matter to the PSNI and social services last September, but no criminal investigation was undertaken.
Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald has faced criticism for failing to state publicly why the former Belfast lord mayor had resigned when she issued a statement last December praising his contribution and wishing him well for the future.
Offering an explanation, Ms McDonald said the Oireachtas was not informed about the issue due to concerns about his mental health and safety, which she said she remains concerned about.
Mr Givan said the various controversies were acting as a distraction from the work of the devolved administration in Belfast.
“This issue is a distraction to what the focus of our government should be about, a very unhelpful one, and one of Sinn Fein’s own making, because of the way in which they have handled this issue when it first emerged a number of weeks ago,” he said.
“Every day there’s a new revelation. Mary Lou McDonald gave a statement in the Dail yesterday and other members were able to raise issues in respect of that.
“Michelle O’Neill has not given the same level of detail in terms of a statement and I think she should, I think she should come into the Assembly chamber, outline what she knew and when, and what actions have been taken, and also make herself available to the committee that scrutinises her office so that elected representatives can ask the questions that wider society is asking about this, because there cannot be any confusion in the public’s minds as to how we deal with the issues around safeguarding and the protection of children.
“There has to be clear messages that you provide information to the appropriate authorities at the right time.”