Sinn F?in: Leader to make statement in D?il on suspended member
Sinn F?in leader to update D?il on suspended member
PA Media Mary Lou McDonald will make a statement in the D?il later
The Sinn F?in leader will make a comprehensive statement in the D?il (Irish Parliament) later regarding a party member who was suspended after sending an inappropriate text message to a youth member of the party. Mary Lou McDonald is coming under pressure over Sinn Fein's handing of recent child safeguarding issues. The controversy was sparked after two Sinn F?in press officers gave references for a former colleague, Michael McMonagle, who was later convicted of child sex offences. The D?il is due to debate the matter on Tuesday afternoon.
It is understood that the allegations of inappropriate text messages were sent by a party official to a 17-year-old in Northern Ireland, who was also a member of Sinn F?in. It is understood the message was personal in nature but not sexually explicit. The party said when it got the complaint in September 2023, it followed its child protection policy, suspended the person who sent the message, and referred them to the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) and the social services. Sinn F?in said the PSNI told it later the same month that it was not carrying out an investigation. The individual later resigned from the party. On Monday, McDonald said there was no investigation and no charge.
McMonagle is currently awaiting sentencing after admitting to a series of child sex offences
