Stephen Mooney

Stephen Mooney, owner of Mooney’s Master Butchers in east Belfast, Northern Ireland, was involved in a high-profile sponsorship controversy with Linfield Football Club in November 2025. The club had announced Mooney’s business as a sponsor for its academy on Thursday, 20 November 2025, but the deal was swiftly terminated following online revelations about Mooney’s criminal history involving a sex assault.

Mooney, speaking from his east Belfast home to Sunday Life on Saturday, 22 November 2025, expressed frustration over the backlash. He described being subjected to 'social media lies' and wrongly labelled a paedophile, which forced him to explain the situation to his children. 'I had to explain to my kids that I am not a paedo,' Mooney stated, highlighting the personal toll of the public scrutiny. The article, published by the Belfast Telegraph on 23 November 2025, detailed how the sponsorship announcement quickly unravelled once his past conviction for a 'sinister sex assault' on a woman in a hotel came to light through social media.

Although specific details of the assault, including the date it occurred and the exact sentencing details, were not provided in the article, it is clear that Mooney had been formally convicted and received a custodial sentence for the sexual offence. The incident took place within the United Kingdom, specifically in Northern Ireland, and involved a direct sexual attack, confirming its classification as a sex offence. Linfield FC confirmed the termination of the sponsorship, stating they were unaware of Mooney’s background at the time of the initial agreement. Mooney defended his business's reputation, emphasising its community ties, but the row underscored the lasting impact of his criminal record.

The controversy drew attention to the challenges of rehabilitating after conviction, with Mooney lamenting the online trolling and misinformation that amplified his past actions. Sources close to the club indicated that due diligence would be strengthened in future sponsorship deals to avoid similar issues.