Northern Ireland

Sinn Féin ministers to face assembly pressure over Bobby Storey funeral PPS decision

Senior republican leaders attend the funeral of Bobby Storey in west Belfast. Picture by Liam McBurney/PA Wire.
Senior republican leaders attend the funeral of Bobby Storey in west Belfast. Picture by Liam McBurney/PA Wire. Senior republican leaders attend the funeral of Bobby Storey in west Belfast. Picture by Liam McBurney/PA Wire.

SINN Féin ministers are expected to come under pressure to voice greater remorse over the Bobby Storey funeral controversy when the assembly breaks from its Easter recess amid the fallout from the decision not to prosecute senior party figures for Covid regulation breaches.

The SDLP last night initiated a bid to recall MLAs during their fortnight's holiday, citing the actions of Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill and Finance Minister Conor Murphy, who are accused of causing "immense hurt" and undermining the Stormont's public health message.

The move came after the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) announced that senior Sinn Féin representatives would not face charges for attending the leading republican's funeral last June when pandemic-related restrictions were in place.

DUP leader Arlene Foster greeted the news by calling for Chief Constable Simon Byrne to step down.

She said his position was "untenable" after the PPS's report detailed extensive PSNI engagement with the Sinn Féin organisers in the days leading up to the funeral.

But Mr Byrne vowed not to quit and rejected claims police facilitated rule breaking.

The first minister said Sinn Féin had acted "as though they were above the law".

Analysis: Stormont's leaders have already moved on from the funeral controversy but there's always a danger they'll be sucked back in

"There was a complete lapse of leadership and a public display of arrogance by Sinn Féin’s elected representatives – public health rules were undermined and irreparably damaged," she said.

Mrs Foster said the role of the PSNI on the day of the funeral was a "determining factor" in the decision not to prosecute.

"That the police assisted in breaking the law is fundamental and requires further examination," she said.

"If any senior officer is identified as having approved of or contributed to that decision-making process, then all those senior officers’ positions are untenable."

Justice Minister Naomi Long however said she did not agree with the call for Mr Byrne's resignation.

She said he was being used as a "lightening rod" for people's anger.

"I don't believe it is the chief constable's fault that we have found ourselves in this position," she said.

"It is wrong that we should direct our anger towards him and the police."

She also said it was not the fault of the PPS.

Ms O'Neill, who was among 24 mourners interviewed by police about attendance at the funeral, said she was "sorry for the hurt that has been caused" and that she had "worked tirelessly" since to rebuild public trust.

“Nine months ago I laid my dear friend Bobby Storey to rest. I accept and understand that many people, particularly those who had lost loved ones during the last year, felt that by my actions, I gave the impression that the rules did not apply to us all equally – let me say clearly they do," she said.

“No funeral is more important than any other. No family or community is any more important than any other. All grief is devastating."

In its motion tabled last night that could see the assembly recalled as early as tomorrow, the SDLP is seeking MLAs to acknowledge the "pain endured by families" across the north during the past year.

The motion "regrets the actions of those in positions of elected office who breached the executive’s public health messaging".

SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said the decision not to prosecute was "not a determination that no law was broken".

"Public rules that were communicated with the weight of law and respected with that burden by so many families and circles of friendship were egregiously breached by people who had a full hand in setting those regulations – that demands accountability," he said.

Ulster Unionist justice spokesperson Doug Beattie said he could not accept that "any other political party, organisation, or collection of individuals would have been treated in this manner".

“It is simply not credible for the PPS to say the funeral organisers were unclear about the rules – the funeral organisers were Sinn Féin, who sit on the executive that wrote the rules," he said.

The Policing Board meanwhile is due to meet tomorrow.