SDLP joins call for questions over Sinn Féin references

First Minister Michelle O'Neill should beryllium questioned successful the assembly implicit references fixed to a erstwhile Sinn Féin property serviceman who was aboriginal convicted of enactment offences, the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) person has said.

Claire Hanna told BBC's Sunday Politics programme that she supported the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader's telephone for O'Neill to look questions implicit the controversy.

Michael McMonagle was employed by the British Heart Foundation successful September 2022 aft references fixed by erstwhile colleagues did not rise concerns astir his suitability for employment.

In September McMonagle, of Limewood Street successful Londonderry, admitted a bid of kid enactment offences including attempting to incite a kid to prosecute successful intersexual activity.

On Sunday, Hanna said that Sinn Féin had not responded successful a "satisfactory way" and should look questions connected the assembly floor.

"We person not had immoderate wide chronology from Sinn Féin astir the things they knew and erstwhile they knew them and crucially what they did to safeguard children due to the fact that we can’t suffer show of that what this is about," she said.

"It’s besides important to accidental a reputable foundation was impugned past week.

"I deliberation it’s due that they’ve had the clip and the abstraction to acceptable retired the steps that they took which to maine look to beryllium perfectly discharging successful their responsibility."

Hanna said, having watched an earlier enforcement committee, that she does not deliberation "full questioning was adjacent facilitated".

"I don't deliberation each the questions were addressed and I deliberation the level of the assembly, much and more, should beryllium wherever we bash concern pertaining to parties, truthful I deliberation that would beryllium appropriate."

McMonagle worked for Sinn Féin for astir 7 years, archetypal arsenic a argumentation advisor astatine Stormont and aboriginal arsenic a property serviceman successful the northbound west, until his apprehension successful 2021, aft which his employment with the enactment ended.

He was past employed by the British Heart Foundation foundation a twelvemonth later, having received references from 2 different erstwhile Sinn Féin property officers.

The references, provided by Seán Mag Uidhir and Caolán McGinley, raised nary "concern astir his suitability for employment oregon referenced an ongoing constabulary probe oregon suspension from his erstwhile employment", according to the charity.

Both aboriginal resigned aft it emerged that they had provided the references without clearance from the party, who condemned their actions.

In September, McMonagle admitted a bid of kid enactment offences.

The offences subordinate to assorted dates betwixt May 2020 and August 2021, and see charges of attempting to incite 2 children to prosecute successful intersexual activity.

He is acceptable to beryllium sentenced successful September.

O'Neill besides apologised for the wounded and distress caused by the property officers who provided the references.

“On Wednesday 25 September 2024, Sinn Féin and I were informed that 2 property officers, who were erstwhile colleagues of Michael McMonagle, had provided employment references for him," O'Neill said successful a statement.

"I americium perfectly appalled and horrified that this occurred," she continued.

"These references were fixed without the cognition oregon authorisation of the party.

"Under nary circumstances would the enactment supply a reference, for enactment oregon otherwise, for Michael McMonagle."

In a connection connected Saturday, O'Neill added "for the intent of completeness", that she had besides been made alert by unit of an "unrelated contented with an big pistillate workfellow of Michael McMonagle astatine a non-work related societal gathering a fig of years ago".

Sinn Féin has been criticised for not alerting the foundation to McMonagle's constabulary probe by different governmental parties.

On Saturday afternoon, DUP person Gavin Robinson called for questions successful the Assembly, adding it was clip for "full transparency".

"Is the information being hid oregon is determination a full deficiency of competence," helium questioned. "It's clip for honesty."

"With each caller revelation undermining a erstwhile Sinn Féin position, this contented requires deeper scrutiny."

Previously, Alliance person Naomi Long said determination are inactive questions to beryllium answered about McMonagle and questioned if the actions taken by the enactment were "appropriate".

Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) person Mike Nesbitt said earlier this week that helium was "very disturbed" by reports that the foundation had not been informed of McMonagle.

Speaking to BBC Radio Ulster's Nolan Show connected Friday, TUV person and North Antrim MP Jim Allister said Sinn Féin "by their words and their deeds has dug themselves into an indefensible position".