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 BHF 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.
Meanwhile, Ms O’Neill confirmed that a former Sinn Féin human resources manager who knew that references were provided for Michael McMonagle over a year ago – but failed to alert party leaders – is still a member of the party.
The revelation emerged when Ms O’Neill was summoned before the Stormont Assembly on Monday.
She also confirmed that the ex-employee oversaw the disciplinary process that led to McMonagle’s departure.
The Irish Times asked Sinn Féin to detail when the HR manager left their job and why the individual retained their party membership. There was no response.
The development follows a BHF statement at the weekend in which it confirmed the charity emailed a senior Sinn Féin HR official about the references for McMonagle in August 2023 as part an internal review of its recruitment process in hiring him.
Ms O’Neill admitted on Saturday that the employee’s failure to inform her or the party leadership about the contact was a “serious omission”.
During her appearance before the Assembly on Monday, Ms O’Neill insisted that the issue of child safeguarding is of “paramount importance” as the party continues to be criticised over its handling of McMonagle’s departure and how it dealt with the controversial fallout over the past week.
Stormont leader of the opposition, SDLP MLA Matthew O’Toole, asked Ms O’Neill if the former HR manager was a still a party member and she confirmed this was the case.
Speaking after the sitting, Mr O’Toole said the matter was “concerning” and raised “more unanswered questions”.
Addressing the Assembly, Ms O’Neill said she was “deeply sorry” for the “reputational damage” caused to the BHF.
“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,” she said.
She added: “As a mother and as a grandmother, I assert my absolute determination, both political and personal, to protecting all children and to protecting all other vulnerable people.”
Ms O’Neill also on Monday apologised in the Assembly on behalf of Sinn Féin for the actions of the two former party employees who provided references for McMonagle.
The hearing was called after a series of multiple urgent questions were tabled to Assembly Speaker Edwin Poots after the controversy.
Mr Poots selected an urgent question from DUP MLA Diane Dodds which asked if the furore had diminished confidence in the First Minister’s office.
Ms O’Neill repeatedly defended her position and when asked about a photograph of her standing just feet away from McMonagle at a BHF event in support of the ‘Donate4Daithí’ organ donation campaign in February last year, she insisted she was unaware he was present.
“My sole focus was on Dáithí and supporting the family to raise awareness for the campaign,” Ms O’Neill said.
“I was not aware that Michael McMonagle was at this event, and I had no knowledge that he had gained employment with the British Heart Foundation.”
[ Michael McMonagle controversy timeline from 2021 arrest to Sinn Féin apologyOpens in new window ]
Earlier, Stormont Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly urged Sinn Féin to be open and transparent in response to questions around McMonagle.
She told MLAs: “There are serious questions about the current situation that have to be answered and as leaders we have to be honest and we have to be credible, and I think very many people out there will feel it has simply not been credible thus far.”
Meanwhile, the Assembly confirmed on Monday that 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.