Michelle O’Neill has said that neither she nor the Sinn Féin leadership were made aware of reference verification checks between the British Heart Foundation (BHF) and a party HR manager last year.
It comes after a claim from BHF that they had spoken to a “senior HR official” from Sinn Féin in August 2023 to state that they had received “two references from Sinn Féin” for former party press officer Michael McMonagle, who has since admitted sex charges.
McMonagle was employed by BHF as a communications and engagement manager three months after his contract with Sinn Féin expired in 2022.
Last month, the 42-year-old, from Limewood Street in Derry, admitted a series of offences, including attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity.
The BHF suspended McMonagle after becoming aware of charges against him in July 2023.
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In her statement, Michell O’Neill said that she “established on the Thursday of this week that in August 2023, following media reports of charges against McMonagle, the British Heart Foundation contacted Sinn Féin’s former HR Manager to verify the email address and identity of the senior press officer who had provided the reference the previous year which the HR Manager did”.
“This contact from the British Heart Foundation was not brought to my attention, or the attention of the Sinn Féin leadership, at that time.
“This was a serious omission,” she added.
She said that she was “deeply sorry” that the BHF has been “caught up in this unacceptable situation”.
The First Minister clarified that on September 25 both her and the party were made aware of the references.
“I am absolutely appalled and horrified that this occurred,” she said.
“These references were given without the knowledge or authorisation of the party.
“Under no circumstances would the party provide a reference, for work or otherwise, for Michael McMonagle.
Both referees resigned after being placed under internal investigation.
“On behalf of Sinn Féin, I apologise for the hurt and distress caused by their actions,” she said.
The First Minister has recently come under fire for saying she had been unaware that McMonagle had taken a job with BHF and that she had not known he was present at a ‘Donate4Dáithí’ campaign event in Stormont last year.
Ms O’Neill said that she was not aware he was present and that her “sole focus was on Dáithí and supporting the family to raise awareness for the campaign”.
Earlier today, Head of BHF in Northern Ireland, Fearghal McKinney, said that in a call with the First Minister she had “agreed recent comments by her and party colleagues questioning the BHF’s due diligence process were unhelpful, and she expressed regret for the damage and upset this has caused to our dedicated staff and supporters.”
“I wish to reiterate that the BHF is confident we undertook all necessary statutory and moral duties required throughout this entire process,” he said.
“Our staff and volunteers in Northern Ireland have been devastated by this issue and our focus now must be on supporting them and focusing on what we are here to do – funding lifesaving research to find the cures and treatments for heart and circulatory disease.”
Both Mr McKinney and Ms O’Neill have expressed their upset at focus being placed on the family of Dáithí Mac Gabhann in relation to the Stormont event in 2023.
The First Minister also claimed that she had been “made aware of an unrelated issue with an adult female colleague of Michael McMonagle at a non-work related social gathering a number of years ago”.
“This was in no way related to any child protection issue and related to him making the female colleague feel uncomfortable,” she said.
“This was resolved by mutual agreement between them at the time.”