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Possible violations of coronavirus regulations at Bobby Storey’s funeral on June 30 caused a fight in Stormont
Deputy Prime Minister Michelle O’Neill has acknowledged that Stormont’s public health messaging capabilities were undermined by the controversy surrounding Bobby Storey’s funeral.
He said he regrets that large numbers of people attended the Republican veteran’s funeral in June.
Ms. O’Neill was among those in attendance, despite Covid-19 restrictions.
Other parties said its credibility was undermined.
After the funeral, Prime Minister and DUP leader Arlene Foster suspended her practice of hosting a joint press conference with Ms O’Neill by handing out Covid-19 updates.
Ms. O’Neill told RTÉ News Wednesday night that she hopes the practice can be restored for a challenging winter.
In response to Ms O’Neill’s comments on Thursday morning, Ms Foster said it was “correct” that she had “acknowledged the weakening of public messages as a result of what happened, and the deep pain and anger it caused. “
Meanwhile, Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) Micheál Martin welcomed the statement.
- The aftermath of Bobby Storey’s funeral
O’Neill acknowledged that Stormont’s public health messaging capabilities had been undermined by the dispute.
She said: “I did not mean for this to happen, but it did happen, I accept it and I am sorry that it does.
“I accept that we have not been able to deliver clear messages in the format that was the practice prior to this controversy.”
Ms. Foster said that “those who make the rules must abide by the rules.”
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Arlene Foster and Michelle O’Neill have not given a joint Covid-19 briefing since Bobby Storey’s funeral
He said that investigations into what happened at the funeral should continue and awaits its conclusions “as soon as possible.”
He added that it is now “vital” to move forward and confront the pandemic “on the basis that our messages are clear and that the actions of all those in leadership do nothing to undermine collective efforts to defeat COVID-19.”
Mr. Martin told RTÉ that the funeral “damaged the public’s confidence in the administration at the time,” adding that Sinn Féin’s response “for too long was one of denial.”
He said: “It should have happened sooner, but it has happened and I welcome it.”
Could the Stormont leaders now return to the podium?
Analysis by BBC News NI political journalist Jayne McCormack
The timing of this admission by Michelle O’Neill makes it all the more meaningful.
It comes just a day after health officials issued the harshest warning yet about the latest spike in Covid-19 cases, with Stormont ministers set to decide what restrictions to reimpose today.
Arlene Foster and Michelle O’Neill haven’t been side by side on press podiums for over two months, but this seems aimed at ending that stalemate.
It’s early, but given the DUP leader’s insistence that she would not resume briefings with Ms O’Neill until there was an “acknowledgment” that the credibility of the executive’s messages had been violated, this might be enough. .
Some DUP members may welcome you; others still won’t feel that it is what they asked for.
But it is the party leadership that will have the last word.
Speaking to RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said she acknowledged that the number of people at the funeral raised public concerns.
She said, “Michelle, I think, is making an important point clear.” First of all, your regret, and our regret, that any undermining occurred in public health messages.
“And also the fact that we now need a joint effort across the island, and in the north between all the Executive parties, to be on a common platform.”
‘Meaningful and useful’
DUP deputy for Upper Bann Carla Lockhart accused Michelle O’Neill of “impressive arrogance” on Twitter.
She said that “the consequences of her blatant disregard for the public health message are evident in the case count, but sorry seems to be the hardest word.”
But Alliance for North Down MP Stephen Farry said Ms O’Neill’s were “important and helpful.”
Michelle O’Neill’s party colleague and South Down MP Chris Hazzard said it was a “positive step”, and that it was “true that Michelle acknowledged and put on record that the fallout from that event in the summer had a impact on the public health message in the executive “.
Speaking to BBC Radio Foyle, Hazzard said: “I hope the executive can now once again speak with one voice to our local community in what looks like a difficult winter to come.”
‘Not currently investigating’
Meanwhile, the DUP has criticized the Police Ombudsman for “not investigating” how the PSNI handled the funeral.
NI Police Chief Simon Byrne said police had sent a complaint from a member of the public about the police actions leading up to the June 30 funeral.
But the Police Ombudsman said he was not currently investigating the issue.
“We have not received any complaints from anyone with direct experience monitoring a funeral in relation to Covid regulations, and we are not currently investigating this issue,” a spokesperson said.
Joanne Bunting, a member of the DUP MLA and NI Police Board, said it was “a weak defense not to act.”
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Sinn Féin leader and deputy director attended the funeral, along with former leader Gerry Adams (center)
After a meeting with Police Ombudsman Marie Anderson on Tuesday, the East Belfast representative said: “The PSNI must be fully accountable not only for the proactive measures taken by its officers, but for the clear failures in acting when public safety is at stake. “
She said there was “deep discontent” among many who elected her over “the inability of the Police Ombudsman to provide scrutiny of the PSNI’s inaction against large Republican funerals that violated confinement restrictions.”
“This is in contrast to the PONI-commissioned investigation into police practice that led to the issuance of fixed sanction notices in the Black Lives Matter protests during the same period,” he added.
“Such inconsistency does little to restore confidence in the role or added value of the Ombudsman’s Office.”
After the funeral, Byrne asked an outside senior police officer to oversee an investigation into possible breaches of Covid-19 restrictions.
Cumbria Police Deputy Constable Mark Webster was appointed to oversee and lead the PSNI investigation into possible violations of Covid-19 restrictions and also to help review events leading up to the funeral date.
