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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
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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 2 hours 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 Bobby Storey's funeral. | |
| However the First Minister Arlene Foster said the apology "fell short" in not acknowledging Ms O'Neill's "role in causing the hurt". | |
| 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 said 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 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 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". |
| "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." | "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." |
| 'Messaging has been severely damaged' | |
| Mrs Foster told a press conference on Friday that she would be speaking to the other party leaders about this issue and "trying to move forward". | |
| "It is important that we try to build the trust that has been lost," she said. | |
| "The executive has tried to deliver messaging as regards public health guidance to keep our people safe and the credibility of that messaging has been severely damaged over the past week," she added. | |
| She said it had been important the "hurt was recognised" but that the apology did not go far enough. | |
| She reiterated her position that the deputy first minister should consider stepping aside while investigations were ongoing. | |
| "If she decides not to that is a matter for Sinn Féin," she said. | |
| She added that, as it was her opinion that Ms O'Neill had broken guidelines, the two would not be doing a side-by-side daily briefing on Monday. | |
| There have also been calls for an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding Mr Storey's cremation at Roselawn Crematorium. | |
| 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. | 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'Neill said "everything was done by the guidelines" and people should stop "stirring the pot". | |
| 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. | 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. |
| Analysis by BBC News NI reporter Mark Simpson | Analysis by BBC News NI reporter Mark Simpson |
| Within Belfast City Council, there are two very different interpretations of what happened at Roselawn Crematorium. | |
| It has been described as a "republican take-over" by some, but others say it was simply a pragmatic approach in a divided society. | It has been described as a "republican take-over" by some, but others say it was simply a pragmatic approach in a divided society. |
| 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. | 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. |
| The presence of republican 'marshals' led to claims that control had been handed over to them. | The presence of republican 'marshals' led to claims that control had been handed over to them. |
| 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. | 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. |
| Roselawn allegations | Roselawn allegations |
| The UUP has called for an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding 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 no burials were permitted after 14:00 BST and no cremations after 15:00 to accommodate Mr Storey's cremation. | 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. |
| 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". |
| 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". | 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". |
| 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". | 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". |
| Guidelines | Guidelines |
| 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. |
| 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 two metres, wherever possible," it stated. | "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 also recommended face coverings for indoor services. | It also recommended face coverings for indoor services. |
| 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". | 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" | 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. | "For that I am very sorry," she said. |
| Crisis talks | Crisis talks |
| The issue has become Stormont's biggest political crisis since devolution was restored in January after a three-year hiatus. | 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. | 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. | 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". | 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". |