Sinn Féin’s handling of safeguarding issues

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald has come under pressure over her party’s handing of recent safeguarding issues.

The controversy was sparked after it was revealed that two Sinn Féin press officers gave references for a former colleague, Michael McMonagle, who was later convicted of child sex offences.

Further revelations have emerged about a former Lord Mayor of Belfast, Niall Ó Donnghaile, who sent inappropriate text messages to a youth member of the party.

Another party member, Brian Stanley, resigned in October after a complaint against him that saw him brought before an internal party inquiry.

McDonald told the Dáil (Irish parliament) his resignation is not related to matters of child protection, but the allegations were still “very, very serious”.

BBC News NI looks at the timeline of events.

August 2021

After a series of offences which took place between May 2020 and August 2021, McMonagle is arrested and suspended from his job with Sinn Féin.

June 2022

McMonagle’s employment with the party is terminated.

September 2022

McMonagle gets a job with the British Heart Foundation using references provided by Sinn Féin press officers Seán Mag Uidhir and Caolán McGinley.

The charity said neither had referenced the ongoing police investigation nor McMonagle’s suspension from his previous employment.