Former Sinn Féin councillor accuses party of ‘double standards’ over Michael McMonagle child sex offences case
A former Sinn Féin councillor whose conviction for sexual assault was overturned has hit out at the party for “double standards” over how it treated him compared to a press officer who recently admitted child sex offences.
Cathal McLaughlin, who represented Causeway Coast and Glens, was expelled from the party after he was convicted in 2022 of sexually assaulting a waitress in Scotland the previous year.
Mr McLaughlin resigned his council seat after the ruling at Edinburgh Sheriff Court and he was placed on the sex offenders register.
However, his conviction was overturned at Edinburgh Court of Appeal in April 2023 after a police investigation and appeals process.
After Mr McLaughlin was cleared last year, he told the Irish News that Sinn Féin “very nearly put me into an early grave”.
He described himself at the time as having been in a “dark place” and on medication for depression.
Mr McLaughlin said in a statement yesterday that his treatment by the party stood in “stark contrast” to how it dealt with Michael McMonagle.
McMonagle was first arrested in August 2021 and Sinn Féin has said it suspended him as soon as it became aware of the police investigation.
His term of employment with Sinn Féin at the Assembly formally ended in July 2022.
The former press officer pleaded guilty earlier this month to child sex offences, including attempted sexual communication with a child, and is awaiting sentencing.
His case sparked controversy after it emerged that two other Sinn Féin press officers had provided him with job references after his departure from the party.
Sinn Féin did not alert his new employer, the British Heart Foundation, about the police investigation into him.
Mr McLaughlin yesterday spoke out against Sinn Féin’s handling of his situation and accused it of “double standards”.
He said: “The controversy underscores broader issues concerning the protection of abuse victims and the need for transparent, fair processes when dealing with allegations.
“Regardless of political affiliation or social status, victims of abuse must be empowered to come forward and be supported by systems that prioritise their safety and well-being.”
Mr McLaughlin said that the party should have suspended his membership pending the outcome of the investigation rather than expelling him altogether.
“While protecting victims is paramount, there is also a responsibility to ensure that due process is maintained for those accused,” he said.
“Immediate actions, such as expulsions or public condemnations, can cause significant harm if allegations are ultimately proven false, as was the case for me.
“The actions of my former comrades should have been to suspend pending the conclusions of all criminal investigations and disciplinary measures. Instead, I was immediately expelled.
“The whole episode was devastating for my family and myself, with Sinn Féin’s actions resembling that of judge, jury and executioner in the eyes of the public.”
A Sinn Féin spokesperson said: “Cathal McLaughlin’s party membership was terminated after he had been found guilty of a criminal offence in a Scottish court on July 11 2022 for an offence which had taken place in October 2021.
“Mr McLaughlin failed to inform Sinn Féin that he had been subject to criminal proceedings at any stage.”
Separately, last year, a Sinn Féin spokesperson defended Mr McLaughlin’s expulsion after they said he “failed to inform the party” of the allegation.
“Cathal McLaughlin was convicted last year in a Scottish court of a serious criminal offence. (He) failed to inform the party at any stage that he was subject to criminal proceedings,” they said.
“Given the severity of the offence, his membership of Sinn Féin was terminated with immediate effect. This matter was dealt with through the courts and the criminal justice system and party processes were appropriately applied.”
Mr McLaughlin said that how McMonagle and he were treated by Sinn Féin was “divergent”.
“It’s striking to note the difference in how Michael McMonagle was treated,” he said.
“The disparity in approaches has raised concerns about inconsistent policies in dealing with allegations, especially where serious criminal matters are concerned.
“The divergent handling of cases involving myself and McMonagle suggests the need for Sinn Féin to re-evaluate its internal procedures to ensure consistency and to prevent the unequal treatment and protect genuine victims of abuse.”

Credit: SUNDAY WORLD