Ex-Sinn Féin press officer has been jailed for sex offences

On By Pranco

Pacemaker Michael McMonagle walks into court wearing a blue shirt and brown jacket. His hair is short and brown. The railings of the courthouse can be seen in the background Pacemaker

McMonagle was sentenced Friday at the Londonderry courthouse

Former Sinn Féin press officer Michael McMonagle has been convicted of child abuse.

He had already been placed on the sex offenders register following a previous court appearance where he pleaded guilty to fourteen charges.

This concerns different dates between May 2020 and August 2021.

On Friday at Londonderry Crown Court, McMonagle was sentenced to nine months in prison and a further nine months suspended.

Pacemaker Michael McMonagle walks into court wearing a blue shirt and brown jacket. His hair is short and brown Pacemaker

McMonagle originally faced 15 charges

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

He was also charged with thirteen counts of attempted sexual communication with a child.

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

McMonagle worked for a while as a newspaper journalist in Derry before taking up a position as Sinn Féin’s press officer in the North West.

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

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