Michael McMonagle pictured leaving the court on Friday
By Keiron Tourish
BBC News NI north-west reporter
A former Sinn Féin press officer who failed to turn up to face child sex charges two days ago has appeared at Londonderry Magistrates’ court.
Michael McMonagle, 41, denies three charges relating to alleged offences between 1 May 2020 and 18 August 2021.
A solicitor said he had been involved in an episode in which he required hospital treatment.
After Mr McMonagle failed to attend a court hearing on Wednesday, an arrest warrant was issued by the judge.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) detained him on Thursday and he was brought to court on Friday in a police car.
It is understood he spent Wednesday evening in hospital.
Mr McMonagle, from Limewood Street in Derry, is charged with attempting to incite a child to engage in sexual activity.
He is also charged with attempted sexual communication with a child and with attempting to make a child look at an image of a person engaging in sexual activity.
Mr McMonagle appeared in the dock at Bishop Street Courthouse in Derry and spoke to confirm his name and address on Friday.
A PSNI officer told the court he could connect the accused to the charges and said police had concerns about bail being granted.
Michael McMonagle arrived at Bishop Street Courthouse on Friday morning, after being arrested on Thursday
The witness said she had two concerns, which included the defendant’s risk of harm to himself and a failure to appear at a future court. That was based on his failure to appear on Wednesday, she added.
A defence lawyer said Mr McMonagle meant no disrespect to the court by failing to attend.
He said his client took these matters very seriously, adding that he had “an episode” on Wednesday and ended up in hospital for treatment.
The lawyer said he had been bailed on several occasions during the course of the police investigation and had attended each time.
He went on to say that this was a wake-up call and he was absolutely confident he would attend court in future to face charges.
The solicitor said Mr McMonagle had no previous convictions and he was of exemplary character.
Suspended from party membership
District Judge Barney McElholm said, hopefully, things had settled down for the defendant.
He granted bail and imposed several conditions which included an order to have no unsupervised contact with anyone under sixteen.
The case was adjourned until 14 September.
Mr McMonagle worked for a time as a newspaper journalist in Derry before being employed as a Sinn Féin press officer in the north west.
He was also an adviser for the party at Stormont for a number of years.
In a statement on Wednesday, Sinn Féin said that as soon as it became aware of his arrest, he was “immediately suspended from employment and party membership”.
