'I should not have commented' on McMonagle case - Murphy

Sinn Féin's economy minister says he accepts the chief constable's view that warning a charity about a potential police investigation into former party press officer, Michael McMonagle, would not have harmed the case.

Sinn Féin has been criticised for not alerting the charity to the fact McMonagle was under investigation for child sex offences.

Last week, Conor Murphy said the party could not have intervened as it would have been potentially prejudicial.

That was later contradicted by the Chief Constable Jon Boutcher.

On Tuesday, the minister said he was "happy to accept" the chief constable's view.

McMonagle, of Limewood Street in Londonderry, admitted to a series of child sex offences last month, including attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity.

He had worked for the party until his arrest in 2021, when he was suspended. His contract of employment later ended.

He then took up a position with the British Heart Foundation in 2022, for which he received references from two other former Sinn Féin press officers.

Murphy added that he "should not have commented" when he said that there were lessons for employers in terms of due diligence.

"I accept I did not have all of the information, and therefore I should not have commented, and I am happy to share in the apology that the first minister made."

The minister said the party would carry out a review of its processes but dismissed calls by other political parties for a wider inquiry.

"All of us have had lessons to learn over the years, we're no different from any other party in that regard," Murphy said.

Meanwhile, Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald has described the decision by the two former party press officers to provide references as “unacceptable and reprehensible”.

Speaking in the Dáil for the first time about the controversy, she said her party takes the matter very seriously and added that the “two individuals concerned have lost their jobs”.

Earlier in an interview on Newstalk's Pat Kenny show, the Sinn Féin leader admitted her party “dropped the ball” in how it dealt with Michael McMonagle.

She said the party was unaware that a senior HR staff member had been in contact with the British Heart Foundation.

"The fact that communication had happened was not communicated up the chain that was an omission and an error," she added.

In statement on Monday, McDonald ordered "a complete overhaul of governance procedures" within the party.

She said she was disgusted by the crimes of McMonagle and said the decision of two former Sinn Féin staff members to give him a reference was "unforgivable and absolutely unacceptable".

On Tuesday, the Sinn Féin President said she was "so angry" with the two former press officers, Seán Mag Uidhir and Caolán McGinley who provided the references.

"I have to be honest with you, for the life of me, I cannot explain to you or account to you how anybody- any rational, sane, decent person, could have considered giving him any form of reference for anything," she added.

When pressed in the Dáil about how Sinn Féin dealt with the McMonagle case, McDonald challenged the other parties over references their colleagues have provided in the past.

She said: “Will the government parties make clear what sanctions they have adopted in cases were senior members of their parties gave written character references for convicted rapists and child abusers?

“I will be interested to hear what action they took,” she added.