Former Sinn Féin press officer facing child sex abuse charges arrested

A former Sinn Féin press officer who failed to appear in court to face child sex abuse charges in Derry has been arrested.

Michael McMonagle spent the night in hospital after failing to turn up in court on Wednesday. He was taken by ambulance to Altnagelvin Hospital from his home in Limewood Street.

A warrant for his arrest was issued when he failed to appear in court.

Police have confirmed they had arrested a 41-year-old man. The PSNI said he was detained on a  bench warrant.

McMonagle faces three charges relating to alleged offences between May 2020 and August 2021. He 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.

A defence solicitor said his client had told him that he had a flat tyre and that he would be making his way to the court. When the case was up for mention again, the solicitor told the court that he had been unsuccessful in contacting the accused.

District Judge Barney McElholm then issued an arrest warrant.

McMonagle worked for a time as a journalist in Derry before being employed as a Sinn Féin press officer.

Sinn Féin said that as soon as it became aware of his arrest, he was "immediately suspended from employment and party membership".