Ex-Sinn Féin press officer jailed for child sex offences

Date:

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

He had already been placed on the sexual offenders register after an earlier court appearance where he pleaded guilty to 14 charges.

They relate to various dates between May 2020 and August 2021.

On Friday at Londonderry Crown Court McMonagle was sentenced to nine months in custody and a further nine months on licence.

McMonagle, 43, who has an address of Limewood Street in Londonderry, originally faced 15 charges, including attempting to incite two children to engage in sexual activity.

He was also accused of 13 counts of attempted sexual communication with a child.

At his first court appearance last year he was charged with three offences but 12 more were added later.

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

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

It was revealed that two Sinn Féin press officers gave references for McMonagle, their former colleague, after he had been arrested and suspended from the party, but before he had appeared in court.

Share post:

Popular

More like this
Related

Arsenal vs Brighton & Hove Albion LIVE: Women’s Super League team news, line-ups and more

The new Women's Super League marks the start of...

Nuno Tavares earns first Portugal call-up after impressive Lazio start

Lazio and former Arsenal left-back Nuno Tavares has earned...

Fantasy Football Week 10 Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em

Set your Week 10 fantasy football lineups with start/sit...

More Caitlin Clark? Golf Channel obliges with beefed up pro-am coverage for The Annika

For those wondering how wide Caitlin Clark's impact on...