Stormont debates Storey funeral controversy
Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill has denied a claim that Sinn Féin believes it is above the law.
It comes as MLAs debate the attendance of Sinn Féin ministers at the funeral of Bobby Storey, which is being investigated for potential breaches of Covid-19 regulations.
TUV leader Jim Allister said: "She and her friends think that they have the right to break the very law that they themselves make."
He told the Assembly: "Equality is to subject yourselves equally under the law."
Ms O'Neill said she had dedicated her job to promoting equality, saying: "I breathe equality every day, I bring it into every aspect of my work every day."
The Sinn Féin vice-president repeated her previous apology for any hurt caused to grieving families following her attendance at the funeral.
Ms O’Neill is facing calls to step down from the four other parties that form the Northern Ireland Executive.
She and Finance Minister Conor Murphy were among a number of senior Sinn Féin figures who joined the cortege in west Belfast, while hundreds lined the route to Milltown Cemetery.
It later emerged that Mr Storey had been cremated at Roselawn in the east of the city and, as with the cortege, 30 people were in attendance, in line with regulations.
However, eight other families were denied access to cremation services at the site.
Belfast City Council has apologised for what it called “an error of judgement”.
Stormont motion
"pays tribute to those who selflessly prioritised the need to keep each other safe above their own personal needs, particularly during times of trauma, loss and grief
expresses disappointment in the actions of those in ministerial office who breached public guidance and failed to share in the sacrifice that we have asked of others
implores members of the public to stay with us and to continue acting in accordance with the regulations in order to keep each other safe and prevent further deaths
recommits to upholding the spirit and the letter of the Covid-19 regulations and the related public health guidance
calls on the deputy First Minister and the Minister of Finance to apologise for their actions, which have caused immense hurt"
Tuesday evening's Assembly debate was launched by DUP MLA Christopher Stalford.
"I regret to say that the deputy First Minister's credibility is shot to bits," he said.
"These rules don't apply to a senior member of Sinn Féin who is being buried. That is what really sticks in people's craw.
"That is what is at the core of this issue. Do as I say, not as I do."
The SDLP's Daniel McCrossan said: "There cannot be one rule for those who govern and another for the rest of us."
Steve Aiken, UUP leader, said there was even different mathematics for Sinn Féin in counting the numbers present.
"Somehow in the Orwellian Adams world your interpretation of the rules means that somehow you are more equal than the others," he said.
Sinn Féin MLA John O'Dowd said some criticising Michelle O'Neill for attending the funeral had themselves attended a funeral.
He said: "They are human. They did what they had to do at that time."
He noted politicians did ordinarily attend services in their constituencies and added: "What I do judge is the blatant hypocrisy of some of those who have signed the motion."
The Bobby Storey motion was passed without a vote at the Assembly.
Earlier, Justice Minister Naomi Long has said she believes coronavirus regulations were breached.
“I think to use a technicality that there were only 30 people in the cortege - when there were clearly hundreds of people at an event that was not just happening while she (Ms O’Neill) was there, but actually being stewarded by Sinn Féin – doesn’t really respect people’s intelligence,” the Alliance Party leader told the BBC.
“It’s very clear that what happened at the Storey funeral was way above and beyond 30 people gathering.
“It exceeded what was permitted for a funeral and there is no question in my mind that the regulations were breached.”
Mrs Long added that trust “has been broken between the public and the Executive”.
She further said that rebuilding that trust could only start when there was “an acknowledge that what happened has broken that trust”.
According to Mrs Long, the deputy First Minister has “yet to acknowledge the harm that has been done to the reputation of the Executive and to her own standing”.
Mrs O’Neill has previously apologised for “grieving families experiencing more hurt”.
First Minister and DUP leader Arlene Foster has asked her partner in powersharing to step aside while police investigate the alleged breaches.
She said the episode had damaged Ms O’Neill’s credibility in delivering coronavirus safety messages and halted joint press conferences as a result.
TUV leader Jim Allister has submitted a no-confidence motion in Ms O’Neill, urging her to resign.