Sinn Féin does not have a culture problem, Michelle O’Neill insists
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Michelle O’Neill has insisted there is not a problem with the culture in Sinn Féin following a series of controversies that have hit the party.
Ms O’Neill vowed to build back trust with anyone whose confidence in her party had been dinted following criticism of its handling of several separate allegations against party members.
Stormont’s First Minister and the Sinn Féin vice president insisted her party took action when it became aware of the various complaints and allegations.
“Well there has been a number of instances, we can’t escape that,” she said.
“I work hard to ensure that we have the public’s trust and to build back anything that perhaps we may have lost.”
Sinn Féin has faced criticism over how it has dealt with a number of controversies, including those involving former press officer Michael McMonagle and former senator Niall O Donnghaile.
In September, McMonagle, 43, from Limewood Street, Derry, admitted a series of offences including attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity.
It subsequently emerged that two other press officers, who have since resigned from the party, provided job references for him after Sinn Féin had suspended him amid police inquiries.
The references enabled McMonagle to get a job with the British Heart Foundation in 2022, with the charity unaware of the allegations.
Last month, former Sinn Féin senator and Belfast lord mayor Mr O Donnghaile revealed that he stepped down from the Seanad and left the party last December because of a complaint that accused him of sending inappropriate text messages to a teenager.
Sinn Féin referred that matter to the PSNI and social services last September, but no criminal investigation was undertaken.
Separately last month, it emerged that a Sinn Féin member had resigned from the party after admitting involvement in an incident where a portrait of former DUP lord mayor Lord Wallace Browne was damaged at Belfast City Hall.
“I would hope that people will see that as soon as any of these things came to our attention, we took immediate action,” Ms O’Neill said.
“I have no tolerance for this type of behaviour in this party.
“I will not tolerate these types of actions, and I will take action to dismiss people that are engaged in any of this type of activity.
“But I don’t believe it’s a culture in Sinn Féin and I think it’s a conflation of a number of issues over a number of weeks unfortunately.
“However, we have to answer up to that, and we have, but I hope that the public will take some comfort from the fact that as soon as information came to our attention, we took action.”
Other issues that have hit Sinn Féin in recent weeks include the resignation of high-profile Sinn Féin TD Brian Stanley who quit the party in October amid a controversy relating to a complaint against him.
He claimed he was subjected to a “character assassination” by a clique within the party and likened its processes to a kangaroo court.
Sinn Féin rejected his claims and insisted it handled the matter in accordance with proper procedures.
His resignation came days after fellow Sinn Féin TD Patricia Ryan quit the party.
She said her departure was in response to the party “undermining” her.
The latest controversy emerged on Sunday evening when Sinn Féin announced that it had suspended one of its Belfast city councillors after an allegation that he exchanged inappropriate online messages with a minor.
The party said it had suspended JJ Magee without prejudice having referred the matter to social services and the PSNI.
Solicitors for Mr Magee have said he “absolutely denies any allegation of inappropriate conduct”.
KRW Law said the complaint against its client had been made to the Northern Ireland Local Government Commissioner for Standards, adding that Mr Magee has lodged a 12,000-word, 38-page rebuttal with the commissioner.
The solicitors said Mr Magee had not made Sinn Féin aware of the complaint as there was “no substance” to it and he believed the matter would be resolved quickly by the commissioner.
The PSNI said it received a report in June this year to regard to inappropriate messages. Officers said no criminal offences were detected, and safeguarding assessments and engagement with other statutory bodies were conducted at the time.
Ms O’Neill said Mr Magee should have told the party about the complaint against him.
“He should have informed the party of anything of this nature,” she said.
“We did our due diligence in terms of referring this both to the police and social services, which is the appropriate response whenever something like this comes to our attention.”
Asked if she was aware of any other allegations in relation to other party figures that are not already in the public domain, Ms O’Neill said she was not.