Cops confirm ‘no further action' in Sinn Fein child sex offender wages probe
The case involving Michael McMonagle, of Limewood Street, Derry, had been referred to the PSNI in January following his conviction last year
Police have confirmed that no further action is to be taken over wages paid to a former Sinn Fein press officer who was later convicted of child sex offences.
The case involving Michael McMonagle, of Limewood Street, Derry, had been referred to the PSNI in January following his conviction last year.
A Stormont review into the circumstances of the case, concerning the 43-year-old's previous employment arrangements with Sinn Fein and the party's elected representatives at Stormont, had found it was 'likely' McMonagle had 'misrepresented' details of that employment.
It concluded that his actions 'may have resulted in a misuse of public money', revealing that for three months in 2020 he simultaneously held two full-time jobs working for two Sinn Fein politicians — First Minister Michelle O'Neill and West Tyrone MP Orfhlaith Begley — while working as a party press officer.
The review said Sinn Fein 'ought to have known' McMonagle was contracted to work for about 80 hours a week.
It found McMonagle was 'likely to have misrepresented his employments and that neither Ms Begley nor Ms O'Neill were aware of this'.
The matter was then referred to the PSNI by the NI Assembly's chief executive, Lesley Hogg.
In a letter sent to MLAs in January, she explained that she was required to report the issue 'under the Assembly Commission's Fraud Prevention and Anti-Bribery Policy'.
In a statement, the PSNI said: 'Enquiries conducted by the PSNI's Economic Crime Unit are now complete. There will be no further police action at this time.'
Last September, it was revealed that two Sinn Fein press officers gave references for McMonagle after he had been arrested and suspended from the party — but before he had appeared in court. Both party officials later resigned.
In January, First Minister Michelle O'Neill said there were 'lessons to be learned for everybody' as a result of the Stormont report into McMonagle's employment.
'I think it's been a very useful piece of work, because I think there's lessons to be learned for everybody in terms of how we employ people and actually how that's all fully accountable,' she said at the time.
'We were at a time of Covid. It was a very short time in which he did work for me and there was an overlap. But I do believe there are lessons to be learned there, of course.'
McMonagle was sentenced to nine months in custody and a further nine months on licence for child sex offences after pleading guilty to 14 changes relating to various dates between May 2020 and August 2021.
In one incident, he believed he was chatting online to a 12-year-old girl, who was actually a police decoy.
The judge said McMonagle had expressed shame over his behaviour 'and deeply regretted the hurt and problems' he had caused.
Afterwards, Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald welcomed the outcome of the case, saying that 'justice has been served'.
Former Sinn Fein press officer Michael McMonagle arrives at Derry Courthouse (Liam McBurney/PA Wire)
News in 90 Seconds - June 18th
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RTÉ News
3 hours ago
- RTÉ News
Belfast Islamic Centre attacked during prayers
An attack on the Islamic Centre in Belfast while people were praying yesterday has been condemned by politicians. A local MLA said a device was thrown inside the building during evening prayer and forced it to be evacuated. Police said they attended a security alert on University Road in south Belfast last night. A number of cordons were put in place and members of the public were asked to avoid the area. A 34-year-old man was arrested and was taken into police custody. Alliance MLA for South Belfast Paula Bradshaw condemned the attack, which she said did "not reflect the diversity of south Belfast in 2025". "This attack was again designed to cause fear among people inside the centre, who were at prayer at the time. "Nevertheless, I am thankful for the intervention of a nearby passer-by and for the work of the police "Those were much more reflective of the true spirit of Belfast, where most people rejoice in diversity. "I would like to express my solidarity with all those who were evacuated and my thanks to all those who worked to ensure their safety." 'Acts like these spread fear and division' - Sinn Féin MLA Sinn Fein MLA Deirdre Hargey said that "no-one should ever feel unsafe in their place of worship". "Acts like these, fuelled by hate, spread fear and division, and target people who have come to our communities to build a life and call this place home. "It's vital that all political leaders speak out and stand united against this disgusting behaviour." Green Party Councillor Aine Groogan condemned the attack as a "cowardly and vicious act". "I am horrified to hear about the attack on the Islamic Centre during evening prayers," she said. "I want to pay tribute to the courageous passer-by who intervened and prevented what could have been a far more tragic outcome. "It is terrifying to consider what might have happened and I sincerely hope that all those present are recovering from this traumatic ordeal." She added: "This attack is yet another reminder of the very real danger faced by our Islamic community. The recent rise in racist hate and violence on our streets is a shameful stain on our society. "We must all take responsibility for actively challenging racism, misinformation and bigotry wherever it appears before someone is seriously hurt. "I urge those politicians who continue to hide behind the notion of so-called 'legitimate concerns' around migration to reflect on the consequences of their words. "Such narratives are as disingenuous as they are dangerous. They help foster a culture in which hate can thrive. Frankly, they should know better."
Irish Daily Mirror
9 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
New RPZ rules mean you'll soon be paying even more rent. That's the whole point
It's amazing how the Government can oversee a decade-long housing crisis and still pretend they want to solve it. They engineered it, created it and take active steps to ensure it keeps on going. Look at the rush to restrict rent caps, the only measure preventing total housing chaos. Yet this reckless intervention is being framed as a national rollout of protections for renters - the exact opposite of what it is. They're calling it a 'reform' of the Rent Pressure Zones, which were reluctantly brought in in 2016 and only after runaway rents had reached a peak. Limiting rents to a 2 per cent annual hike was absolutely necessary to stop the greed. But these changes to RPZs will leave it toothless, and pile more pain on renters. The express purpose is to make rents higher so the market is "attractive" to investors. The only thing investors find attractive is money. Now, tenants are trapped into higher rents on both sides - forced to pay more if they stay long-term in the same place, or, if they move to a new place. Do I stay or do I go? Either way, you'll be stiffed for the highest rent possible. Landlords will be able to 'reset' rents after six years for sitting tenants; and they can reset them too, for new tenants. Government is determined to make the market more profitable for the investors they bend over for. This is being done on the backs of renters already stuck paying extortionate average rents of €2,000 nationally and €2,500 in cities. The reform - rushed into legislation on Friday - will ensure more rent hikes, sparking ever-upwards market rates. Sinn Fein's Eoin O Broin described it as "the deathknell of rent pressure zones as we know them'. The reason it's being done is to drive rents up. Taoiseach Micheal Martin and Housing Minister James Browne have stated this. They want an Ireland of higher rents. Martin said it was about enabling a 'stable environment in which to invest'. James Browne said: "Rents may go up." May? Will. If they don't go up, the investors won't invest. Our leaders claim it will be more costly in the short term, but lead to more supply in the long term. What use is that to tenants? That's punishing renters to pander to investors. It's also an empty pledge, as such investors deliver small volumes of very expensive rental in affluent parts of Dublin and Cork - helping just the chosen few. It goes against the Housing Commission advice, which recommended RPZs stay in place while an alternative system of rent controls is formulated. The Central Bank's Robert Kelly said the changes will 'be painful for renters'. He said: 'It's likely to be positive in terms of the level of supply, as they have rent resets within them. But the pain felt by households is not even, due to the housing crisis'. Good news for the investor - bad news for the renter. The Irish Mirror's Crime Writers Michael O'Toole and Paul Healy are writing a new weekly newsletter called Crime Ireland. Click here to sign up and get it delivered to your inbox every week Mike Allen from Focus Ireland called it 'a solution that says 'we can deliver more housing, but you won't be able to afford to live in it'. That's not a solution.' I was at the Raise the Roof rally outside the Dail on Tuesday. I've been attending such protests since 2015, usually with my son Luc and his friend Filip. I've seen them grow from little boys into young men, over the time. They're now taller than Eoin O Broin, who they first met at these protests when they were six or seven. And yet it is still going on. Childhoods continue to be lost to it. This latest move makes it clear the crisis is actually profit-driven policy. At the rally, Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said they had gathered at the rally to call out the Government's "spoof and outright lies". TD Paul Murphy correctly called it a 'manufactured crisis' that 'transfers wealth from workers to a tiny few at the top, the corporate landlords and developers'. Deputy Rory Hearne said it is 'clearly government policy to have a permanent housing crisis'. For a government to do that to its own people is, in my view, tantamount to treason.
The Irish Sun
21 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Body of man discovered at popular Irish beach as police seal off scene and urge public to ‘avoid the area'
A POPULAR beach has been cordoned off in Derry after the body of a man was discovered earlier this afternoon. It is understood the man got into difficulty swimming in the sea at the beach during the scorching weather. Advertisement The The assistance of the RNLI was also requested as the PSNI asked the public to avoid the scene A PSNI spokesperson said: "Police are currently in attendance after a body was found on the beach in Castlerock today, Friday 20 June. "Cordons are in place and the public is asked to avoid the area at this time." Advertisement READ MORE IN NEWS The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service confirmed the alarm was raised via an emergency call at 3.35pm today. They said: "The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service received a 999 call at 14:35 on Friday 20 June following reports of an incident at Castlerock Beach. "NIAS despatched a Rapid Response Paramedic, 2 Emergency Crews, 1 HART Crew and an Ambulance Officer to the scene. "Ambulance Control also tasked the Charity Air Ambulance, with HEMS Team on board, to attend. Advertisement Most read in Irish News "Following assessment and initial treatment, no patients were taken from the scene." It comes as RNLI campaign teaches people to float rather than thrash around if they find themselves in trouble in cold water Peter Byrne tragically died in a swimming incident at Cloghristick, Milford, Co Carlow at around 6.30pm on Tuesday evening. The young player for New Oak FC passed away after getting into difficulty in the water at Cloghristick, Milford, Co Carlow at around 6.30pm on Tuesday evening. Advertisement The teen, who had just finished Transition Year in the local CBS secondary , and his pals were at a local gym earlier in the evening and then went swimming. New Oak FC took to 'LIFE AND SOUL OF THE DRESSING ROOM' They wrote on "Peter was a pocket rocket in the team over the last number of years. Advertisement "Small in stature but big in personality. He was a huge character with a touch of Roy Keane about him, not afraid of anything or anyone." They continued: "Peter was the life and soul of the dressing room and training and will be sadly missed by his coaches Ernie, Danny and all his teammates who have not only lost a fellow player but a friend." 1 Police have cordoned off the scene Credit: Getty Images
