The PSNI has issued a second request for the media to stay away from the funeral of a loyalist.
The police press office last night issued a no media request for the funeral of Stanley Wightman which takes place today.
Wightman (52) died in hospital two days after his friend Colin 'Bap' Lindsay after they were attacked with a samurai sword at a house in the Belvoir estate in south Belfast earlier this month.
Albert Armstrong from Mahee Close on the Belvoir estate has been charged with murdering both men.
Earlier yesterday, police defended a decision to issue a request on behalf of Lindsay for the media not to attend the paramilitary funeral.
Senior members of the UDA mingled with mourners at the funeral of Colin ‘Bap’ Lindsay in south Belfast yesterday.
UDA commander Jackie McDonald, dressed in a dark suit and wearing a UDA tie, saluted as Lindsay’s remains were shouldered into Belvoir Church of Ireland for his funeral service.
Other senior loyalist figures included Colin Halliday, who is a spokesman for the UDA linked Ulster Political Research Group.
Police officers sat in cars near the church as two men carried large floral wreaths from the UDA and the UFF behind the murdered man’s remains.
Several men dressed in white shirts and black ties and wearing loyalist armbands, formed a guard of honour for the cortege which was led by a lone piper.
Another man who was wearing a beret also saluted the coffin as it passed.
A request issued through the PSNI press office on Thursday said: "The family of Colin Lindsay who was murdered in the Belvoir estate last week have asked media representatives to respect their privacy at his funeral tomorrow. The family has requested that media stay away from the proceedings."
Policing Board member Dolores Kelly last night said the PSNI need to clarify their position.
"I think it’s up to them to explain why they made the decision they did and what consideration they gave to it," she said.
"It may have been out of respect for the family but there are others to do that.
"I don’t know if the police have asked the media to stay away from funerals of a paramilitary nature before."
Responding a spokesman for the PSNI said: "PSNI often issue media notes on behalf of families in grief who request media to respect their privacy at the funeral of a loved one, whether it be the sudden death of a relative, a child, victims of road traffic collisions or other deaths."
In 2009 police came in for criticism after they were accused of "facilitating" the funerals of two UVF men.
Concerns were raised after roads were closed during the funeral of Shankill Butchers boss William Moore on the Rathcoole estate on the outskirts of north Belfast.
A freelance photographer was attacked and had his camera stolen by loyalists as he tried to take pictures of the funeral.
Days later the PSNI came in for further when they closed roads in the Shankill area of west Belfast during the funeral of senior loyalist Jim McDonald.
Police issued requests on behalf of both families for the media to stay away.
The latest controversy comes as unionists voiced anger after a volley of shots was fired over the coffin of Peggy O’Hara in Derry this week.
Mrs O’Hara is the mother of INLA hunger striker Patsy O’Hara.
