She also repeated her “anger and disgust” that two party press officers had sent references to the British Heart Foundation for Michael McMonagle.
It came after the charity revealed it spoke “with a senior Sinn Féin HR official where we shared that we had two references from Sinn Féin” in August 2023.
That raises awkward questions after several senior figures insisted the party only became aware of the references for McMonagle in recent days.
Speaking this afternoon, Ms O’Neill said the Sinn Féin leadership had been unaware of the contact, branding it a “serious omission”.
Ms O’Neill has denied knowing that McMonagle had taken a job with the BHF – despite being photographed standing several feet from him at a charity event in Stormont in early 2023.
Last month, McMonagle (42), from Limewood Street, Derry, admitted a series of offences, including attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity.
The former press aide was first arrested in August 2021. Sinn Féin has said it suspended him as soon as it became aware of the police investigation.
Yesterday the party admitted it failed to return McMonagle’s Stormont security pass. It was only handed back this week – with Sinn Féin acknowledging it should have been revoked when he was suspended.
However, the revelation that Sinn Féin was contacted about references in August 2023 will raise major questions for the party.
Senior figures have insisted in recent days that they were unaware that McMonagle was employed by the British Heart Foundation, or that two Sinn Féin press officers – who have since resigned – provided references.
The BHF said: “As a matter of good practice, the BHF reviewed the recruitment process for the individual. As part of this process, on 3 August 2023 we had email dialogue with a senior Sinn Féin HR official where we shared that we had two references from Sinn Féin.”
Fearghal McKinney, the head of BHF in Northern Ireland, said he had spoken to Ms O’Neill today, and she acknowledged that some comments from the party had been unhelpful.
He said the First Minister had expressed regret for the “damage and upset” caused by the controversy.
In a statement after Saturday’s call, Ms O’Neill said: “I am deeply sorry that they have been caught up in this unacceptable situation. I look forward to a continued constructive relationship with the British Heart Foundation in promoting heart health.”
Ms O’Neill also said she has established that the BHF contacted Sinn Féin in August 2023 after charges were brought against McMonagle to verify an email address that a job reference had been sent from.
Ms O’Neill said she was not made aware of that contact at that time – something she described as a “serious omission”.
She added: “I have also established on the Thursday of this week that in August 2023, following media reports of charges against McMonagle, the British Heart Foundation contacted Sinn Féin’s former HR manager to verify the email address and identity of the senior press officer who had provided the reference the previous year, which the HR manager did.
“This contact from the British Heart Foundation was not brought to my attention, or the attention of the Sinn Féin leadership, at that time. This was a serious omission
Mr McKinney, in his statement, said he outlined to Ms O’Neill the processes the BHF undertook in hiring McMonagle and determining his suitability for employment, “and the robust internal investigation we undertook after learning of the serious charges against him”.
He added: “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.”
Mr McKinney said the BHF is confident it undertook “all necessary statutory and moral duties required throughout this entire process”.
“Our staff and volunteers in Northern Ireland have been devastated by this issue and our focus now must be on supporting them and focusing on what we are here to do – funding lifesaving research to find the cures and treatments for heart and circulatory disease,” he added.
“Lastly, our thoughts are with the children and their families who are the ultimate victims of these terrible crimes.”
McMonagle pleaded guilty at Derry Crown Court last month to 14 offences of attempted sexual communication with a child and attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity.
The offences dated between May 2020 and August 2021.
He is due to be sentenced next month
McMonagle took up a position with the BHF in September 2022. However, the charity has said it was not made aware that he was facing investigation.
Two Sinn Féin press officers, Sean Mag Uidhir and Caolan McGinley, resigned last Saturday after it emerged they had given him references for the job.
Sinn Féin has said the references were provided without clearance from the party and described the press officers’ actions as “unacceptable and wrong”.
Speaking to Cool FM on Tuesday, Economy Minister Conor Murphy said “it became apparent last Wednesday (September 25)” when asked when Sinn Féin learned of the references.
“That’s the first we knew that any references had been given,” he added.
Earlier this week, Ms O’Neill told a Stormont committee: “I did not know anything about Michael McMonagle’s whereabouts or employment.”
She also said she was “aghast and horrified” that the two Sinn Féin press officers provided a reference. “It would not have happened if they had come and asked for permission,” she said. “It was wrong and should not have happened.”
On Wednesday, Sinn Féin TD Eoin Ó Broin also said the references should not have been provided.
He added that Sinn Féin only became aware of McMonagle’s employment by the British Heart Foundation in recent weeks.
“My understanding is the party didn’t know, and in fact, all of this only became knowledge to the party when the issue of the references provided without authorisation from the party was brought to the party’s attention the last two weeks,” he added.
