Former Sinn Féin press officer Michael McMonagle jailed for child sex offences

ireland
Former Sinn Féin Press Officer Michael Mcmonagle Jailed For Child Sex Offences
Michael McMonagle, 43, from Limewood Street in Derry, was sentenced at Derry Crown Court to nine months in custody and nine months under statutory supervision. Photo: PA.
Share this article

By Rebecca Black, PA

A former Sinn Féin press officer has been jailed for nine months after pleading guilty to a series of child sex offences.

Michael McMonagle, 43, from Limewood Street in Derry, was sentenced at Derry Crown Court to nine months in custody and nine months under statutory supervision.

Advertisement

He made no comment as he arrived at court earlier in the case that plunged Sinn Féin into controversy as it faced questions around safeguarding, and how two other party press officers provided references for McMonagle for a subsequent job with the British Heart Foundation.

Michael McMonagle court case
Michael McMonagle was sentenced at Derry Crown Court (Liam McBurney/PA)

Derry Crown Court heard on Friday how McMonagle had communicated with a number of online accounts which were run by police officers posing as children.

Advertisement

McMonagle had originally faced 15 charges, including attempting to incite two children to engage in sexual activity.

The offences relate to various dates between May 2020 and August 2021.

He pleaded guilty to 14 of the 15 offences, and another charge was left on the books.

McMonagle worked for a time as a newspaper journalist in Derry before being employed as a Sinn Féin press officer in the north west.

Advertisement

He was also an adviser for the party at Stormont for a number of years.

In a statement after his first court appearance, Sinn Féin said that as soon as it became aware of his arrest, he was “immediately suspended from employment and party membership”.

Read More

Message submitting... Thank you for waiting.

Want us to email you top stories each lunch time?

Download our Apps
© BreakingNews.ie 2024, developed by Square1 and powered by PublisherPlus.com