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Bobby Storey funeral: O'Neill 'sorry' for grieving families' hurt Bobby Storey funeral: O'Neill 'sorry' for grieving families' hurt
(about 1 hour later)
Michelle O'Neill has said she is "sorry for grieving families experiencing more hurt" after complaints about her attending an ex-IRA leader's funeral.Michelle O'Neill has said she is "sorry for grieving families experiencing more hurt" after complaints about her attending an ex-IRA leader's funeral.
The deputy first minister was accused of breaching social distancing regulations at the funeral of Bobby Storey on Tuesday.The deputy first minister was accused of breaching social distancing regulations at the funeral of Bobby Storey on Tuesday.
Four executive parties, including the DUP, had called for her to step aside.Four executive parties, including the DUP, had called for her to step aside.
Ms O'Neill has reiterated that she believes she stuck to the coronavirus lockdown guidelines. Ms O'Neill has said she believes she stuck to the coronavirus lockdown guidelines.
'Unfortunate controversy''Unfortunate controversy'
At a press conference on Friday, she said: "I am confident that I worked within the guidelines in terms of attending a Requiem Mass, which was allowed, and also to walk in a funeral cortege of up to 30 people."At a press conference on Friday, she said: "I am confident that I worked within the guidelines in terms of attending a Requiem Mass, which was allowed, and also to walk in a funeral cortege of up to 30 people."
She said she thought it was "unfortunate that the executive is divided on this issue". She said she was conscious that "in the middle all the politicking, there are a number of families grieving, who have lost love ones throughout this pandemic".
She also expressed regret at the "unfortunate, considerable controversy over [her] decision to attend the funeral". "At a point in time, families were denied the right to have that family support in terms of a funeral and how they would grieve. I hear those families."
'I hear those families'
Ms O'Neill said: "I'm conscious that in the middle all the politicking, there are a number of families grieving, who have lost love ones throughout this pandemic.
"And I hear them. At a point in time, families were denied the right to have that family support in terms of a funeral and how they would grieve. I hear those families."
There have also been calls for an independent investigation into Mr Storey's cremation at Roselawn Crematorium.There have also been calls for an independent investigation into Mr Storey's cremation at Roselawn Crematorium.
Mr Storey's body was brought to the facility after initially being taken to Milltown Cemetery. The body of the former prisoner, who was considered the head of intelligence of the IRA for a period from the mid-1990s, was brought to the facility after initially being taken to Milltown Cemetery.
In relation to this, Ms O'Nell said "everything was done by the guidelines" and people should stop "stirring the pot".In relation to this, Ms O'Nell said "everything was done by the guidelines" and people should stop "stirring the pot".
Belfast City Council has said executive guidance was followed at the crematorium. Belfast City Council said all cremations held on Tuesday complied with the guidance from the Northern Ireland Executive guidance which permits 30 people to gather outside.
It is Stormont's biggest political crisis since devolution was restored in January after a three-year hiatus. Analysis by BBC News NI reporter Mark Simpson
Ms O'Neill's press conference followed a statement issued earlier on Friday, in which she said she was "concerned that grieving families are experiencing more hurt in recent days". Within Belfast City Council, there are two very different interpretations of what happened at Roselawn crematorium.
She said: "I am sorry for that." It has been described as a "republican take-over" by some, but others say it was simply a pragmatic approach in a divided society.
Earlier on Friday, Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald told RTÉ: "I do understand that looking at the images of very busy pathways in west Belfast and taking all of that in obviously has jolted and has caused some hurt among some of those families, and for that I am very sorry. Cremations are scheduled at regular intervals, but it is believed the slots immediately after Bobby Storey was cremated were taken off the booking system. This left some with the impression that the friends and family of the republican veteran were being given exclusive access.
"That certainly would never have been my intention or Michelle's intention or the intention of the Storey family as they laid Bobby to rest." The presence of republican 'marshals' led to claims that control had been handed over to them.
Crisis talks However, others say that it was in everyone's interest that with numbers limited, measures were needed to identify those who were entitled to come through the gates.
On Thursday, Mrs Foster said she could not currently "stand beside" Ms O'Neill - who is Sinn Féin's deputy leader - and "give out public health advice" after her attendance at the funeral.
Responding to Ms O'Neill's statement, SDLP leader Colum Eastwood described it as a "half apology", and said if she was not able to show contrition she should stand aside.
Bobby Storey was a former prisoner and close friend to leading Sinn Féin figures and was considered the head of intelligence of the IRA for a period from the mid-1990s.
Tuesday's funeral was the latest in a number of events that have been criticised for attracting crowds during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), Ulster Unionist Party (UUP), Alliance Party and SDLP have called for an investigation into Ms O'Neill's behaviour and believe the executive's health message aimed at containing Covid-19 has been undermined.
It is understood Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis and Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney spoke with the party leaders on Thursday evening.
Ms O'Neill, the DUP leader Mrs Foster, Colum Eastwood of the SDLP, the Alliance Party's Naomi Long and Steve Aiken of the UUP held talks at Stormont on Friday.
They did not disclose details of their discussion, but said the party leaders' forum - which was established as part of the New Decade, New Approach deal that restored the power-sharing executive in January - would convene each month.
Roselawn allegationsRoselawn allegations
The UUP had called for an independent investigation into Mr Storey's cremation at Roselawn Cemetery, which is run by Belfast City Council. The UUP has called for an independent investigation into Mr Storey's cremation at Roselawn Cemetery.
There have been claims that a number of council staff were sent home from the cemetery during the funeral and that Sinn Féin marshals were on the premises. There have been claims that a number of council staff were sent home from the cemetery during the funeral and that no burials were permitted after 14:00 BST and no cremations after 15:00 to accommodate Mr Storey's cremation.
It has also been claimed that no burials were permitted after 14:00 BST and no cremations after 15:00 to accommodate Mr Storey's cremation. Ulster Unionist MLA Doug Beattie said Sinn Féin had turned the situation "into a circus".
Ulster Unionist MLA Doug Beattie said Sinn Féin had turned the situation "into a circus" and called for action from the council's chief executive. The council said plans were put in place for people appointed by the Storey family to work with it in stewarding the event so that "those allowed on the site were only those permitted by the family".
For its part, the council said all cremations held on Tuesday complied with the guidance from the Northern Ireland Executive guidance which permits 30 people to gather outside. It said some staff who had been due to go home at 16:00 BST were allowed to leave at 14:00 "to avoid a situation where staff would be photographed, as has happened... in the past" and that a decision had been taken not to hold any more cremations that day "in order to protect the privacy of other members of the public and their cremation services".
The council said it had been in contact with an unnamed local elected representative, and plans had been put in place for people appointed by the Storey family to work with Belfast City Council in stewarding the event.
It said these people were in place "to ensure that those allowed on the site were only those permitted by the family".
The council said some staff who had been due to go home at 16:00 BST were allowed to leave at 14:00 "to avoid a situation where staff would be photographed, as has happened with other high profile funerals or sensitive cremations in the past".
It said an "operational decision" had been taken not to hold any more cremations that day, "in order to protect the privacy of other members of the public and their cremation services".
The council added it had made the decision "impartially in what is often a complex and difficult political environment".
Public mood
DUP MP Sir Jeffrey Donaldson said there needed to be an investigation into whether the regulations had been breached.
He said: "We will also be asking the PSNI to specifically investigate any potential regulatory breaches by executive ministers, including the deputy first minister."
Mr Donaldson said Ms O'Neill "failed to realise the public mood on this and the deep concern that people are taking this personally".
GuidelinesGuidelines
About 120 mourners were inside St Agnes's Church in Belfast for Mr Storey's funeral, BBC News NI understands.About 120 mourners were inside St Agnes's Church in Belfast for Mr Storey's funeral, BBC News NI understands.
The deputy first minister told a Stormont committee on Wednesday that Requiem Masses were now possible due to this week's reopening of places of worship.
However, guidance on religious services issued to faith leaders last week stipulated that it did not apply to weddings, baptisms or funerals.
At the press conference, Ms O'Neill said changes to the Requiem Mass guidance had come into effect on Monday.
Updated guidance, seen by BBC News NI on Wednesday and published on the Department of Health website on Thursday, said funeral services could now be conducted in a place of worship.Updated guidance, seen by BBC News NI on Wednesday and published on the Department of Health website on Thursday, said funeral services could now be conducted in a place of worship.
"The size and circumstances of the venue will determine the maximum number that can attend the service safely whilst observing social distancing of at least 2 metres, wherever possible," it continued. "The size and circumstances of the venue will determine the maximum number that can attend the service safely whilst observing social distancing of at least two metres, wherever possible," it stated.
"It is recommended that face coverings are used for indoor services." It also recommended face coverings for indoor services.
The guidance for those gathering outdoors remains the same with the guidance, issued for funeral directors, stating "a maximum of only 30 are permitted to gather for the committal at the graveside or at the front of the City of Belfast Crematorium". The guidance for those gathering outdoors remains "a maximum of 30 to gather for the committal at the graveside or at the front of the City of Belfast Crematorium".
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald told RTÉ she understood "the images of very busy pathways in west Belfast... has caused some hurt among some of those families"
"For that I am very sorry," she said.
Crisis talks
The issue has become Stormont's biggest political crisis since devolution was restored in January after a three-year hiatus.
On Thursday, Mrs Foster said she could not currently "stand beside" Ms O'Neill and "give out public health advice" after her attendance at the funeral.
SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said Ms O'Neill had offered a "half apology", and that she should stand aside if she was not able to show contrition.
DUP MP Sir Jeffrey Donaldson said the deputy first minister "failed to realise the public mood on this and the deep concern that people are taking this personally".