The Sinn Fein Paedophile, Michael Gerard McMonagle – In a bizarre move, a judge at the Crown Court in Derry has imposed a twenty-four-hour deadline for a former Sinn Fein publicity officer, Michael Gerard McMonagle, to attend and respond to fifteen counts of child sexual abuse, instead of ordering his immediate arrest.
Judge Philip Babington issued the ruling concerning Michael Gerard McMonagle, 42, residing on Limewood Street in the Bogside district of the city.
When Michael Gerard McMonagle was arraigned on the allegations in April, he pleaded not guilty to all of them.
Michael Gerard McMonagle was scheduled to appear in court on Thursday for re-arraignment on all allegations he had initially denied, but he did not attend.
His legal team told Judge Babington they could not explain why Michael Gerard McMonagle was not in court. They said they’d tried to contact them by mobile phone and calling his home address, but they could not locate him.
Michael Gerard McMonagle, who is on court bail, faces thirteen charges of attempting to communicate with children to obtain sexual gratification sexually.
Michael Gerard McMonagle also faces one charge of attempting to incite a girl under the age of thirteen to engage in sexual activity involving penetration and one charge of trying to incite another female child under the age of sixteen to engage in a sex act.
Michael Gerard McMonagle committed the offences between May 2020 and August 2021.
Judge Babington said he would not immediately issue a bench warrant for the defendant’s, Michael Gerard McMonagle, arrest but would give the defendant twenty-four hours to appear before him to answer the charges.
A barrister for the Public Prosecution Service said that a trial date in the case had been fixed for the following Monday, which involved prosecution witnesses travelling from England. He noted that a trial was not now expected to take place.
Defence barrister Dean Mooney said, “A trial will not be required on Monday. If there are any witnesses on standby, they will not be required on Monday. I cannot think of any reason for his non-attendance in court today”.
UPDATE
A former Sinn Fein publicity officer has been cautioned that he may face imprisonment after admitting guilt to accusations of child sexual assault.
At Londonderry Crown Court, Michael McMonagle of Limewood Street in the Bogside area of Derry confessed to two charges of inciting minors to participate in sexual activity.
He also admitted guilt to charges of engaging in sexual communication with a minor.
Michael Gerard McMonagle was mandated to register as a sex offender but was released on ongoing bail.
Judge Neil Rafferty indicated that he is likely to get a prison sentence upon his return for sentencing in November.
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