Mary Lou McDonald has apologised “for the distress” caused by Sinn Féin’s handling of the case of a former press officer who was under investigation for child sex offences.
The Sinn Féin leader announced the initiation of a “complete overhaul” of its governance procedures to ensure such an incident is “never repeated again”.
It comes as the North’s First Minister, Michelle O’Neill, said she was “deeply sorry” for damage caused to the reputation of a charity which employed Michael McMonagle after he left Sinn Féin.
Ms O’Neill faced MLAs in the Stormont Assembly as she was questioned over the ongoing controversy around how she and her party dealt with allegations against McMonagle.
The First Minister’s comments in the Assembly were made shortly after deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly distanced herself from Sinn Féin’s “attempts to blame other organisations” in the fallout from the row.
It also followed Assembly confirmation that McMonagle 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.
Last month, McMonagle (42), from Limewood Street in Derry, admitted a series of offences, including attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity. He will be sentenced in November.
He was first arrested in August 2021 and Sinn Féin said it suspended him as soon as it became aware of the police investigation.
His term of employment with Sinn Féin at the Assembly formally ended in July 2022.
McMonagle then went on to get a job with the British Heart Foundation (BHF), which did not know he was under investigation for child sex offences.
Sinn Féin has been under mounting pressure after it emerged that two former party press officers provided references for McMonagle in 2022 for the BHF job.
The press officers quit more than a week ago after Sinn Féin began disciplinary proceedings against them.
Ms McDonald has been under increasing pressure, including from Taoiseach Simon Harris, to address the controversy publicly.
In a statement issued on Monday evening, the Sinn Féin president insisted she had taken “decisive action” when she became aware that the two references had been given.
She said the actions of the two press officers who provided the references were “unforgivable and absolutely unacceptable to me.”
Neither press officer has commented publicly on the references since they quit the party.
“I have asked the incoming general secretary to immediately initiate a complete overhaul of governance procedures within the party,” said Ms McDonald.
“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.
“I will 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 Fein, 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.
“There must always be accountability for wrongdoing. That is why when I was made aware of this issue on Wednesday September 25 2024 decisive action was taken. Those who gave references in this case were guilty of gross misconduct, they no longer work for the party and are no longer members of the party.
“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.”
