Overhaul of Sinn Féin governance promised by Mary Lou McDonald as reference controversy grows

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald has said a “complete overhaul” of governance procedures will be initiated within the party, after two former party employees provided references for their ex-colleague Michael McMonagle, a former party press officer who has been convicted of child sex offences.
Pressure has been building on Ms McDonald to address questions about the ongoing controversy after it emerged that Seán Mag Uidhir, an influential Sinn Féin figure who headed the party’s media operation in the North, and his colleague Caolán McGinley left Sinn Féin when it was revealed that they provided the references for McMonagle.
Last month, McMonagle (42) from Limewood Street in Derry, pleaded guilty to two charges of attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity, and 12 counts of attempted sexual communication with a child on dates from 2020 to 2021.
McMonagle was suspended from his job with Sinn Féin after he was arrested in August 2021, and in September 2022 was appointed to the role of communications and engagement manager with the British Heart Foundation (BHF) in Belfast.
It emerged last weekend that the British Heart Foundation told a senior Sinn Féin official about the references in 2023. On Monday, Stormont’s First Minister Michelle O’Neill was summoned before the Northern Ireland Assembly to answer questions on the affair, where she said that the official whom the charity had contacted was Sinn Féin’s former human resources manager, who is still a member of the party.
After days of scrutiny on the issue, Sinn Féin leader Ms McDonald issued a statement on Monday evening condemning the actions of the two former Sinn Féin members and promising an overhaul of governance structures within the party.
“There must always be accountability for wrongdoing. That is why I took decisive action when I was made aware on Wednesday, 25th September, 2024, that two staff members had provided job references to Michael McMonagle. Those who gave these references in this case were guilty of gross misconduct and they no longer work for the party and are no longer members of the party. Their actions are unforgivable and absolutely unacceptable to me.
“I am disgusted by the crimes of Michael McMonagle, who is facing the full rigours of the law. He was immediately suspended from the party and his employment when he was questioned by the PSNI in 2021, as required by our child protection and HR procedures.
“The following year two of his co-workers in the Assembly provided references to him. I am shocked that anyone would have given him a reference, given the serious allegations and subsequent charges that he faced. This is unforgivable and absolutely unacceptable to me. This was done without consultation with the party.
“I have asked the incoming general secretary to immediately initiate a complete overhaul of governance procedures within the party. We will do everything necessary to ensure that an incident like this never arises again. The general secretary will take external professional advice in this work.”
Ms McDonald also said she would “ensure that there are clear processes so that there are no grey areas whatsoever where an individual has been suspended or ends their employment with Sinn Féin, to ensure that there are no future issues in relation to handing back work passes and to make absolutely clear that references cannot be provided by individual members of staff”.
“I deeply regret that the British Heart Foundation has been caught up in an issue not of their making. They do incredibly important work and I look forward to continuing our work with them now and in the future. I apologise for the distress that has been caused by these events. I am committed to ensuring that an incident like this is never repeated again,” Ms McDonald said.
Ms O’Neill on Monday apologised on behalf of Sinn Féin for the actions of two former party employees who provided references for McMonagle.
She told the Assembly on Monday: “On Wednesday 25th of September, 2024, Sinn Féin and I were informed the two press officers who were former colleagues of Michael McMonagle had provided employment references for him.
“And I am absolutely appalled and horrified that that occurred.
“These references were given without the knowledge or authorisation of the party, and under no circumstances would the party have provided a reference for work or for otherwise for McMonagle.”
[ Michael McMonagle controversy timeline from 2021 arrest to Sinn Féin apologyOpens in new window ]
“The party took immediate action against both individuals and their actions constituted gross misconduct, which would result in their dismissal,” Ms O’Neill told the Assembly.
“But as the party process was ongoing, both individuals resigned their positions and terminated their party membership with immediate effect on Saturday the 28th [of] September.
“So on behalf of Sinn Féin, I apologise for the hurt and the distress caused by their actions.”
Ms O’Neill also apologised to the BHF for damage caused to its reputation.
Ms O’Neill told the Assembly: “I’ve since established on the Thursday of last week that in August 2023, following media reports of charges against McMonagle, the British Heart Foundation contacted Sinn Féin’s former HR manager to verify the email address and identity of the senior press officer who had provided the reference the previous year, to which the HR manager responded.
“This contact from the British Heart Foundation was not brought to my attention or the Sinn Féin leadership at that time, and that was a serious omission.
“Members will know that I spoke with Fearghal McKinney, the head of the British Heart Foundation, to discuss this situation.
“This is an organisation that does sterling work providing support, research and, obviously, services, and I am deeply sorry for the reputational damage caused to the British Heart Foundation, and I regret that this has happened, and I apologise for this.”
Ms O’Neill added: “I want to be very, very clear that the issue of child safeguarding is of paramount importance to me and I will do everything that I can to ensure that a situation like this never arises again.”
Ms O’Neill said she was not aware that McMonagle had attended an event at Stormont in February 2023 at which she was present.
“On the 14th of February 2023 I attended the event in Great Hall in support of the Donate for Dáithí campaign hosted by the British Heart Foundation.
“My sole focus was on Dáithí [six-year-old organ donation campaigner Dáithí Mac Gabhann] and supporting the family through the works of the campaign and I was not aware that Michael McMonagle was at this event, and I had no knowledge either that he had gained employment with the British Heart Foundation.”
She has not ruled out returning to the Stormont Executive Office committee later this week for questioning around McMonagle.
Mr McKinney, who is head of the BHF in Northern Ireland, earlier said the charity had suffered reputational damage over the matter. He said the charity was dismayed when their due diligence appeared to have been questioned.
It earlier emerged that McMonagle was employed directly by Ms O’Neill during his time working at the Assembly.
The Assembly has confirmed that he was employed by Ms O’Neill and three other Sinn Féin MLAs across two periods, when his salary was paid for by Assembly allowances provided from the public purse.
McMonagle was paid out of Ms O’Neill’s staffing allowance between March and May 2020, at a time when she was Stormont Deputy First Minister.
Parties can hire staff from Assembly funds provided to them centrally, or individual MLAs can hire them from their own staffing allowances. – Additional reporting: PA