Former Sinn Fein press officer Michael McMonagle was paid from the public purse, the Assembly has confirmed.
The party did not inform the Assembly that he was suspended after being arrested for child sex offences.
McMonagle (42), of Limewood Street in Londonderry, pleaded guilty last month to a string of sex charges, including attempting to incite a child into sexual activity.
He was first arrested by police in August 2021 and subsequently suspended from Sinn Fein.
The Assembly said McMonagle was employed by a number of MLAs between May and October 2014, and again between March 2020 and July 2022.
A payroll service is provided to MLAs by the Assembly Commission through which they pay their staff, who are employed directly by the MLAs.
“Between March 2020 and July 2022, Michael McMonagle’s employment costs were recovered under the employing MLAs’ support staff costs within the relevant Assembly Members’ (Salaries and Expenses) Determination,” a spokesperson said.
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During his latter period of employment, McMonagle would have been paid between £23,490 and £37,180 a year.
“Under the UK Data Protection Regulation, the Assembly Commission cannot disclose particular payments made to individuals,” the spokesperson said.
Regarding McMonagle’s suspension, the Assembly spokesperson said: “The employment relationship between MLAs and their staff is a matter for MLAs.”
The spokesperson added: “MLAs are not required to notify the Assembly Commission about employment matters, unless those matters are relevant to payroll services.
“It follows that the Assembly Commission was not made aware of Michael McMonagle’s suspension as an employee of an MLA, nor the reason for it.”