Northern Ireland

Belfast city councils denies 61 people present at Bobby Storey cremation

The funeral of republican Bobby Storey making its way to Milltown for burial Picture Mal McCann.
The funeral of republican Bobby Storey making its way to Milltown for burial Picture Mal McCann. The funeral of republican Bobby Storey making its way to Milltown for burial Picture Mal McCann.

BELFAST City council has denied that 61 people attended the cremation of veteran IRA member Bobby Storey's funeral at its facility last week.

UUP councillor Jim Rodgers cited the figure during an interview on BBC Radio Ulster's Stephen Nolan Show when he said he had been contacted by "seething" funeral directors.

However, a council spokeswoman insisted "the figure of 61 is not correct. The number attending was within the regulations- ie max 30".

The claim came the day after the local authority had to apologise after admitting it had taken an "operational decision" to only allow Mr Storey's cremation to include up to 30 people - with eight other' cremations not permitted any.

Mr Rodgers and party colleagues Sonia Copeland are due to meet senior police officers today to raise "Roselawn and what happened".

"I am not putting any of the blame on any of our staff at Roselawn who do a superb job. During the COVID-19 pandemic they have gone the extra mile. It just has been unbelievable.

"Those staff have carried on their responsibilities and their duties...We need to get the truth here for families and for rate payers."

Justice minister Naomi Long said Sinn Féin's response to the gathering of hundreds of people at a service for senior republican Bobby Storey "doesn't respect people's intelligence".

A group of 30 walked in a group behind the herase, while hundreds of men and woman dressed in white shirts and black ties walked in two lines from St Agnes' Church to Milltown Cemetery.

A number of pallbearers were pictured carrying his coffin including former Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams and North Belfast assembly member Gerry Kelly, despite guidance on funerals making it clear that coffin lifts are not recommended unless all pallbearers are from the same household.

The Department of Health confirmed that the advice applies to all funerals, regardless of the cause of death.

Ms Long told the BBC: "I believe the guidance was breached."

"This was a large event, 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 was there but actually being stewarded by Sinn Fein - doesn't really respect people's intelligence.

"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."

The Alliance leader called for a start to rebuilding "the trust that has been broken between the public and the Executive" with "an acknowledgement that what happened has broken that trust".