Michelle O’Neill addresses Storey funeral controversy
Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill has said she is sorry “grieving families are experiencing more hurt”, as she addresses the controversy surrounding the funeral of Bobby Storey.
The Sinn Féin vice president has indicated she has no intention of stepping down, despite calls for her to do so over concerns mourners at the leading republican’s funeral broke Covid-19 restrictions.
Ms O’Neill was one of a number of senior party figures who took part in the cortege in west Belfast.
In a statement issued on Friday, she noted the “considerable controversy” over her attendance, adding of Mr Storey: “He was my friend.”
The deputy First Minister said all families who were grieving were “at the foremost of my mind”.
She added: “I am also concerned that those grieving families are experiencing more hurt over recent days. I am sorry for that.
“Bobby’s family also must have space to grieve.”
Ms O’Neill said: “If the regulations had prevented me from attending his funeral, I would have obeyed those regulations.
“At the funeral and mass, I kept to the regulations as I have advised others to do.
“The PSNI will look into all of this.”
Ms O'Neill further added: “It is unfortunate that this matter has divided the Executive.
“We have important work to do and I firmly believe that all the parties of the Executive are committed to this and to powersharing.
“We have made good progress in this despite all the difficulties. My commitment is to continue this work.
“Covid 19 is still with us and I will continue to lead us through this and in to recovery.”
Earlier, Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald apologised to anyone hurt by the gathering.
“I am acutely conscious of everyone who has lost a loved one and buried them in the most difficult and heart-breaking and lonely of circumstances at the heart of the pandemic,” she told Newstalk.
“The very fact that people could not have church services, if that is what they wished, or even enter cemeteries or crematoriums, was incredibly, incredibly hard.”
There has also been controversy over the handling of Mr Storey’s cremation at Roselawn.
However, Belfast City Council has moved to address questions raised.
In a statement, it held that the chapel and indoor facilities were closed due to Covid-19, but an option was available for 30 mourners to gather outside for a service.
The council said all cremations at the facility “complied with guidance set out by the NI Executive”.
In relation to arrangements for Mr Storey’s cremation, the statement said: “A local elected representative contacted council officials by telephone to enquire on what was permissible and what numbers were allowed on Tuesday.
“Council officials confirmed the NI Executive guidance. That local elected representative also informed the council officials that people, appointed by the family, would be on site to assist the family in ensuring that the only people given access to the site would be family.
“These people, playing a stewarding role for family, would work with Belfast City Council staff to ensure that those allowed on the site were only those permitted by the family.”
The statement added: “This is no different to what would normally be the case in a high profile cremation or one that would potentially attract high numbers of people or media.
“There were two Belfast City Council staff at the bottom gate of the crematorium and these staff were in radio contact with a manager who was outside Roselawn Crematorium.
“A staff presence at the gates has been a necessary arrangement throughout the response to Covid-19.”