A DUP councillor has told of his disappointment after the party was prevented from raising the funeral of veteran republican, Eamon “Peggy” McCourt at a meeting of Derry and Strabane council.
Unionists criticised the large numbers who followed Mr McCourt’s cortege following Requiem Mass at St Mary’s church in the Creggan earlier this weej in breach of Covid-19 regulations.
Senior unionist politicians drew comparisons with last year’s funeral of Belfast republican, Bobby Storey.
The Derry man, who died from Covid-19, was well known in republican circles. In 1981 he was injured in one of the most notorious episodes of the Troubles during a shooting incident between the IRA and SAS.
Two IRA men Charles Maguire and George McBrearty were killed in the incident.
Sinn Féin said the party played no part in organising the funeral but confirmed that “two or three” councillors attended along the roadside.
DUP councillor Maurice Devenney attempted to raise the covid breach at Thursday’s council meeting.
However, he was ruled out of order by mayor, Brian Tierney as the authority was discussing unrelated incidents.
Sinn Féin leader on the council Sandra Duffy accused Mr Devenney of “using a grieving family”.
Following the meeting, Mr Devenney said it was appropriate that the issue of the funeral was raised as it was a matter of public health.
“On a human level, I sympathise with everyone who has lost someone, particularly in this crisis but many families have gone through this and have had to limit numbers. There have been funerals of friends of mine that I would have liked to attend but couldn’t.
“I think it was only appropriate that we raise this at council and it is disappointing that we were not allowed to,”
The DUP councillor said his own mother passed away in November and attendance at her funeral was limited to family only.
“Sinn Féin has to stick to the rules and regulations like the rest of us,” he said.
Mr Devenney welcomed yesterday’s news that police had carried out surveillance at the funeral and said he hoped it would lead to prosecutions.
He said there was concern in the Protestant, unionist and loyalist community that “two-tier policing was being operated in Northern Ireland".
