McMonagle jailed for nine months for child sex offences

Former Sinn Féin press officer Michael McMonagle has been jailed for nine months after pleading guilty to child sex offences.

McMonagle, 43, from Limewood Street in Derry, was sentenced at Derry Crown Court to nine months in custody followed by nine months under statutory supervision.

He has also been disqualified from working with children and vulnerable adults.

He pleaded guilty to two charges of attempted incitement of a child to engage in sexual activity and 12 counts of attempted sexual communication with a child.

McMonagle's case caused a political crisis for Sinn Féin when it emerged that two press officers provided references that enabled him to get a job with the British Heart Foundation charity, after the party had suspended him following his arrest.

In a statement after his first court appearance, Sinn Féin said that as soon as it became aware of the arrest, he was "immediately suspended from employment and party membership".

Speaking outside court, PSNI Detective Chief Superintendent Lindsay Fisher said that McMonagle is a "predator who was combing the internet for underage victims".

"Our child internet protection team work in online spaces so that we can catch paedophiles, hopefully before they traumatise and harm children in our communities.

"It is by no means an easy job but a rewarding one when we are able to bring offenders like McMonagle before the courts as we have done so today.

"McMonagle is a predator who was combing the internet for underage victims.

"Let this serve as a warning, we are everywhere. If you are attempting to communicate with a child online in a sexual way, you will be caught and you will face the full force of the law when you are," she said.