Mary Lou McDonald must outline when she knew about Sinn Féin references for paedophile Sinn Féin member

Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill is calling on Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald to make an urgent statement on what she knew, and when she knew, about senior staff from her party issuing references for a paedophile member of her party.

“The crimes of Michael McMonagle are abhorrent, he has been found guilty and is facing sentencing, however today we learn that two senior members of Sinn Féin gave this paedophile references after the police investigation into his crimes got underway.

“For the Sinn Féin President it is essential she come clean on when she knew that two senior members of her team had resigned over the references.

“In particular, I would like to ask if this information was suppressed until her party’s Ard Fheis and her own media interviews had concluded this weekend.

“Sinn Féin must also produce the references so the public can see in what capacity the two referees provided the references.

“I wholeheartedly agree with the calls of the leader of the opposition in Stormont for clarity around the grave and serious questions that now hang over Sinn Féin,” Minister Carroll MacNeill said.