McMonagle: 'Reputational damage' done to British Heart Foundation

The British Heart Foundation (BHF) said it was dismayed when senior Sinn Féin members appeared to question the charity's due diligence in relation to the recruitment of a former party press officer, who was being investigated for sex offences.

Michael McMonagle of Limewood Street in Londonderry, is currently awaiting sentencing after admitting to a series of child sex offences .

He was employed by the BHF in September 2022 after references given by former colleagues in Sinn Féin did not raise concerns about his suitability for employment .

Sinn Féin's vice-president, Michelle O'Neill, has said she apologised for the hurt and distress caused by the press officers who provided the references.

On Wednesday, O'Neill said there were lessons for a lot of people in terms of "due diligence for an employer when they take on an employee".

Mr McKinney said O'Neill has "expressed regret" about the comments.

"It was quite clear that whenever comments were made about due diligence that there was only one other organisation that employed him since he was employed by Sinn Féin, so clearly there was a reflection on us," he told BBC News NI.

"We need to have support from the public – close supporters, volunteers, staff," he said, adding that "any damage caused to that at all" can "undermine the good work" of the charity.

"When this happened and there was damage caused, as we saw it, to our reputation, added damage we thought around the public comments that were made, we had to do something to make sure that the record was put straight," Mr McKinney said.

"We're content that we have done everything in our power in order of keeping all our supporters, all our staff and the wider public that's connected with us safe and they know that that's what the standard that the British Heart Foundation applies."

The work references were provided three months after McMonagle was dismissed from the party while under police investigation.

Sinn Féin said this happened without clearance from the party and described the press officers' actions as wrong and unacceptable.

Seán Mag Uidhir and Caolán McGinley have resigned from their roles at the party .

When asked if the charity was aware of the reasons for McMonagle leaving Sinn Féin, Mr McKinney replied: "We knew nothing."

The leaders of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) and the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) have called for O'Neill to be questioned in the Assembly over the issue .

Mr McKinney said he spoke with O'Neill on Saturday morning and that she offered "words of regret and apology about what has happened".

He said in the phone call he outlined the hiring process McMonagle went through, as well as the "robust internal investigation" that he said took place after the charity learned of the charges.

"Michelle O'Neill agreed recent comments by her and party colleagues questioning the BHF's due diligence process were unhelpful, and she expressed regret for the damage and upset this has caused to our dedicated staff and supporters," he told BBC's Good Morning Ulster programme.

"I wish to reiterate that the BHF is confident we undertook all necessary statutory and moral duties required throughout this entire process.

"The tone of the phone call and the words of the phone call was sufficient for us to feel confident that, in fact, the situation and the record has been put absolutely straight."