Stormont Controversy: O'Neill Denies Meeting McMonagle While Under Investigation

First Minister Michelle O’Neill reportedly did not see former Sinn Féin press officer Michael McMonagle at a Stormont event, despite being photographed just meters apart. An investigation led by Dr. Melissa McCullough, the Assembly Commissioner for Standards, concluded that O’Neill had no interaction with McMonagle on that day. This investigation was initiated following a complaint from TUV MLA Timothy Gaston, who accused O’Neill of misleading a committee regarding her knowledge of McMonagle’s whereabouts after he left Sinn Féin amid serious allegations.

McMonagle had been suspended from Sinn Féin following his arrest in 2021 on child sex offense allegations and was later convicted. The report revealed that two Sinn Féin press officers provided job references for McMonagle while he was still under investigation, leading to their resignation.

O’Neill’s statements during a committee meeting were put into question, particularly her claim of not knowing about McMonagle’s presence at Stormont. In her defense, the Commissioner noted that while their proximity could suggest otherwise, the event was crowded, making it plausible for O’Neill to miss McMonagle. McMonagle himself described their interaction as nonexistent, stating he had taken videos for imagery purposes during the event.

Additionally, another complaint from Ulster Unionist MLA Doug Beattie challenged O’Neill’s credibility regarding when she learned about the references given to McMonagle, but the investigation found that she was unaware of these actions as the press officers did not inform the party. The findings highlighted the actions of a former HR director who also failed to notify O’Neill or anyone else in the party about the references.