Michael McMonagle a former Sinn Fein press officer from Limewood Street in Londonderry was handed down a nine month custodial sentence and nine months under statutory supervision.
Derry Crown Court heard how McMonagle had communicated with a number of online accounts which were run by police officers posing as children as part of an online child sex abuse sting operation.
McMonagle had originally faced 15 charges, including attempting to incite two children to engage in sexual activity but pleaded guilty to 14 of the 15 offences relating to numerous dates between May 2020 and August 2021.
