Northern Ireland

Two more Sinn Féin ministers reimburse public purse for using official Executive cars to attend Storey funeral

Two more Sinn Fein ministers have reimbursed the public purse for the cost of using official Executive cars to attend the funeral of republican Bobby Storey. Picture by Mal McCann
Two more Sinn Fein ministers have reimbursed the public purse for the cost of using official Executive cars to attend the funeral of republican Bobby Storey. Picture by Mal McCann Two more Sinn Fein ministers have reimbursed the public purse for the cost of using official Executive cars to attend the funeral of republican Bobby Storey. Picture by Mal McCann

Two more Sinn Féin ministers have reimbursed the taxpayer for the cost of using official Executive cars to attend the funeral of republican Bobby Storey.

It comes after it was revealed last week that the cost of Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill using an Executive car to attend the funeral in west Belfast last June had been recouped.

The payment was made public following an Assembly question by TUV leader Jim Allister, which had been submitted last July.

According to Belfast Live, Finance Minister Conor Murphy and former Communities Minister Carál Ní Chuilín also travelled to the funeral using official Executive cars.

A Department of Finance spokeswoman said: "The minister stopped on his way from home en route to official business in Stormont. The associated cost was £61.96 which was reimbursed in full."

A Department for Communities spokesman said: "The cost was £98.98, which was reimbursed in full."

News of the payments comes nine months after the funeral, which caused tensions as it drew large crowds amid the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

Police carried out an investigation into potential breaches.

In total, 24 people were interviewed and a file has been submitted to the Public Prosecution Service.