Creep sits on bench in view of bouncy castle… yet cops adamant he didn’t breach court order banning him from ‘unavoidable contact’ with children
Paedophile ex-Sinn Fein press officer Michael McMonagle was reported to the PSNI for allegedly leering at kids in a Belfast park during a family fun day.
But police say he has not broken any laws despite being subject to a Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO) that bars him having any “access, association, contact or communication with young persons under 16 save for everyday inadvertent and unavoidable contact”.
McMonagle was spotted sitting on a bench in Botanic Gardens last Sunday near a children’s bouncy castle while a widely advertised multi-cultural family summer festival went on around him.
A PSNI spokeswoman said: “A report was made to police concerning a potential breach of a SOPO on Sunday evening, August 31.
“Following investigation, it was determined that on this occasion the circumstances of the report made to police did not breach this order.
“Police take all reports of alleged breaches of a SOPO seriously. If a report is received by police concerning the suspected breach of a SOPO, it is investigated thoroughly and in line with the legislation.”
Botanic Gardens is a popular weekend destination for families
However, the PSNI response failed to impress the concerned father who reported McMonagle. He told Sunday Life: “McMonagle was sitting leering on a bench while the place was teeming with kids.
“I’d have thought since he’s just been out of jail for (child sexual abuse) offences he’d be banned from parks, especially when there’s a family fun day on.
“But he was sitting there as brazen as you like 20ft away from a bouncy castle and fun fair, so I reported it to the police and got a crime reference number.”
Paedophile former Sinn Fein press officer Michael McMonagle pictured for first time after release from prison
Ex-Sinn Fein press officer is jailed over child sex offences
When told that the PSNI is not treating McMonagle’s presence at the family fun day as a SOPO breach, the father said he would be making a complaint to the Police Ombudsman.
He added: “I’ll be going to the Ombudsman. There were signs up in Botanic advertising the family fun day, bouncy castles, amusements. As soon as McMonagle saw all that he should have turned around and walked out of the park instead of planting himself on a bench.”
McMonagle served nine months in prison for 14 child sexual abuse offences before being freed in August. He is currently living in hostel accommodation close to Queen’s University.
Two weeks ago the Belfast Telegraph pictured him hauling a suitcase and large bag past the Laganside court complex in the city centre. It is understood he was in the process of moving to his new whereabouts.
McMonagle had intended to return to his native Derry city but threats from the New IRA, which mistakenly pipe-bombed a neighbour’s house in the Bogside area instead of his, put paid to these plans.
Michael McMonagle during his court case
Although a free man McMonagle will spend the next nine months on licence, meaning he can be returned to prison for that period if the authorities suspect he has committed any further sex offences.
The predator was first arrested in August 2021 following a PSNI undercover sting operation which showed he had spent the previous 15 months sending explicit sexual messages to what he thought were children, but were in fact police decoys.
Among his victims were ‘Amber’, who he thought was a 12-year-old girl, and who he ordered to masturbate and send indecent images of herself to him.
He also contacted what he thought were young schoolboys, and sent an image of the lower half of his body dressed only in boxer shorts.
Unlawful surveillance of NI journalists was withheld from watchdog by PSNI
At the time McMonagle was a Sinn Fein press officer, having previously worked as a party advisor and before that a journalist.
After his suspension from Sinn Féin following his August 2021 arrest, McMonagle secured job references from former press office colleagues Séan Mag Uidhir and Caolán McGinley. Both later resigned from their positions within the party.
When he was sentenced last November, it was revealed McMonagle attempted to take his own life twice ahead of being jailed.
After he was caged for nine months, Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald said “justice has been served”. She added: “I voice my appreciation to the system that has brought McMonagle to book and he will now be behind bars.”
PSNI Chief Superintendent Lindsay Fisher described McMonagle as a “predator who was combing the internet for underage victims”.
As well as being subject to a 10-year Sopo, the paedophile is on the sex offenders register for seven years, and is banned from working with children and vulnerable adults.
by heresmewhaa
10 comments
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Any reason why this is being downvoted lads?
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Classic.
If this was a DUP councillor there’d be 100 comments about those scumbag loyalists.
But it’s a Sinn Fein guy so … crickets ….
You really do let yourselves down lads. This is an easy one, acknowledging this guy is a scumbag doesn’t lower your Republican credentials at all, and would make it look like the sub at least tries to be impartial … but you just can’t manage it. Bless.
Thing is no unionists have Donaldson glowing references after he was exposed. Sinn Fein on the other hand…..
He’s out? Was he not jailed?
Justice has been served, my hole. Hell stick it up him. All pedophiles need shunned from society.
The usual Reddit mouthpiece’s are very quiet when it comes to Sinn Fein paedophiles – says everything about the weirdos really.
Criminals of all sorts will never face proper justice until we start to accommodate them better. The real issue here is that the cunt was out in only 6 months, most likely because there’s not enough room. With only 3 here and 12 down south, it’s no wonder pedos and thugs are receiving nothing sentences.
I’d vote for anyone, DUP included, if they could deliver on locking up the scumbags in our society and keeping them there instead of letting a woman abuser off on bail or sending a pedo away for a 6 month holiday.
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