Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Crowds attend the funeral of Bobby Storey in June PA

PSNI complete investigation into potential Covid-19 breaches at Bobby Storey funeral

24 people were interviewed over suspected breaches of the North’s Covid-19 regulations.

THE PSNI HAS completed its investigation into potential breaches of Covid-19 health restrictions in the North arising from the funeral of Bobby Storey.

In a statement this afternoon, the PSNI said it would submit a file to the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) tomorrow but would not comment further on an active investigation.

Police interviewed 24 people suspected of having breached the North’s Covid-19 regulations, including Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill and other senior Sinn Féin members.

There was anger in June when large crowds spilled on to the streets of west Belfast despite strict restrictions banning large public gatherings at the time.

A group of 30 walked in the funeral cortege in west Belfast, while hundreds lined the route from St Agnes’ Church to Milltown Cemetery.

It later emerged that Storey was cremated at Roselawn cemetery in the east of the city, where 30 people were allowed to attend an outdoor committal service.

However, eight other cremations that took place on the same day were not allowed services at the site. Belfast City Council later apologised to those families.

O’Neill was called on to resign in the wake of the funeral, and later acknowledged that Stormont’s public health messaging capacity had been undermined by the row over the funeral.

First Minister Arlene Foster also called on the PSNI to address a “dangerous” perception of a two-tier approach to the policing of the funeral.

With reporting from Press Association.

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
28 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute HearMeNow33
    Favourite HearMeNow33
    Report
    Dec 17th 2020, 2:22 PM

    Let it go….

    138
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tommy Berry
    Favourite Tommy Berry
    Report
    Dec 17th 2020, 2:29 PM

    @HearMeNow33: Are you mad? This will be wall to wall, for a few weeks.

    65
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Seán Óg
    Favourite Seán Óg
    Report
    Dec 17th 2020, 3:09 PM

    @Tommy Berry: True. Can’t let a chance of some shinner bashing pass them by.

    79
    See 2 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Denis Logan
    Favourite Denis Logan
    Report
    Dec 17th 2020, 4:05 PM

    @Seán Óg: says the shinnerbot

    24
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Seán Óg
    Favourite Seán Óg
    Report
    Dec 17th 2020, 5:54 PM

    @Denis Logan: How predictable of you.

    13
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute tirnanog1979
    Favourite tirnanog1979
    Report
    Dec 17th 2020, 2:55 PM

    When is the Gardaí report on Charlie Flanagan potential Covid-19 breaches at Colm Horkan funeral

    114
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jane
    Favourite Jane
    Report
    Dec 17th 2020, 3:06 PM

    @tirnanog1979: no comparison and you know it

    65
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Seán Óg
    Favourite Seán Óg
    Report
    Dec 17th 2020, 3:10 PM

    @Jane: Both funerals broke the regulations Jane and you know it.

    99
    See 13 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute GrumpyAulFella
    Favourite GrumpyAulFella
    Report
    Dec 17th 2020, 3:17 PM

    @tirnanog1979: that would be Detective Garda Colm Horkan.

    36
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jane
    Favourite Jane
    Report
    Dec 17th 2020, 3:18 PM

    @Seán Óg: SF could have sent representatives to Mr Storeys funeral as happened with Garda Horkans funeral and I don’t think anyone could have complained. Instead SF attended the funeral en masse, traveling from all over the country to do so and gathered in a graveyard to give a graveside oration where no burial was taking place.

    46
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute MickN
    Favourite MickN
    Report
    Dec 17th 2020, 3:29 PM

    @Jane: Nonsense, they were as bad as each other

    25
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Seán Óg
    Favourite Seán Óg
    Report
    Dec 17th 2020, 3:44 PM

    @Jane: Both funerals had large crowds and poor social distancing. If you admonish SF for the Storey funeral then surely you must do the same for Garda Horkan’s funeral. Your disliking of SF seems to be clouding your judgement Jane.

    48
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jane
    Favourite Jane
    Report
    Dec 17th 2020, 4:05 PM

    @Seán Óg: but only one was attending in very large numbers by political party reps from all over the country. That’s the difference.
    Why is it even when SF are obviously wrong no criticism is allowed?
    Why do ye want to replace a crowd that dodge questions with another crowd that dodge questions?

    24
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Angela McCarthy
    Favourite Angela McCarthy
    Report
    Dec 17th 2020, 5:06 PM

    @Jane: Critism is allowed Jane, but the obvious point you insist on ignoring, is that critism is selective and hypocritical. As was pointed out, you cant criticise one and not the other – but in your case, you did just that.

    To me, both were wrong. It would seem, that to you, there is only political captital to be made from criticising one.

    23
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John Mc Donagh
    Favourite John Mc Donagh
    Report
    Dec 17th 2020, 5:44 PM

    @tirnanog1979: It ill behooves Shinners to comment on any Garda’s funeral —–They were responsible for quite a few in their time and indeed have been known to give rapturous acclaim to certain Garda’s murderers.

    23
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jane
    Favourite Jane
    Report
    Dec 17th 2020, 7:43 PM

    @Angela McCarthy: and you are ignoring the involvement of a political party in only one of the funerals. A political party that was involved in the making of the rules for everyone else in that jurisdiction.

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Angela McCarthy
    Favourite Angela McCarthy
    Report
    Dec 17th 2020, 7:59 PM

    @Jane: A political party? dont you mean political parties, as more than one seems to be set on debating it. but not the other.

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jane
    Favourite Jane
    Report
    Dec 17th 2020, 8:20 PM

    @Angela McCarthy: not sure what you mean by that Angela. Only one party is in bother over it because only one party attended en masse. Bringing a crowd to the graveyard unnecessarily was just ridiculous.
    Everyone understands that Bobby Storey was an important figure in SF and as such no one would have batted an eyelid if some of the senior politicians in SF had attended as was done with Garda Horkans funeral.

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Seán Óg
    Favourite Seán Óg
    Report
    Dec 17th 2020, 9:02 PM

    @Jane: Where did I say no criticism is allowed? People attending both funerals broke government guidelines. So don’t cherry pick your outrage Jane. Call a spade a spade.

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jane
    Favourite Jane
    Report
    Dec 17th 2020, 9:24 PM

    @Seán Óg: tell you what Sean you just continue to ignore what are the obvious differences between them as I’ve pointed out above. And continue to be outraged at all and any criticism leveled at SF.

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Seán Óg
    Favourite Seán Óg
    Report
    Dec 17th 2020, 9:29 PM

    @Jane: I have criticised SF over the attendance of Bobby’s funeral. Because it was wrong to stage a funeral with those numbers in attendance. But you ignore the fact that large numbers attended the Garda’s funeral, including some politicians. Same rules for everyone Jane.

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ger Murray
    Favourite Ger Murray
    Report
    Dec 17th 2020, 2:30 PM

    One rule for that crowd, Sur they are the “law” 8 cremations the same day and no one allowed .

    74
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Airwave81
    Favourite Airwave81
    Report
    Dec 17th 2020, 2:34 PM

    @Ger Murray: who’s that crowd ?.

    33
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tim
    Favourite Tim
    Report
    Dec 17th 2020, 5:37 PM

    @Airwave81: The uniformed woman and men that lined the streets

    12
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jimmy Mac
    Favourite Jimmy Mac
    Report
    Dec 17th 2020, 4:54 PM

    Clear the decks, Nolan show can’t wait to ramp up the whole funeral again, rest in peace Big Bobby, a giant among men.

    30
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute frank_1916
    Favourite frank_1916
    Report
    Dec 17th 2020, 5:25 PM

    now could they start investigating collusion with he uvf

    23
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Brian D'Arcy
    Favourite Brian D'Arcy
    Report
    Dec 17th 2020, 7:37 PM

    The usual crowd talking about people in uniforms blah, blah, blah. What I saw were people in ordinary clothes coming out to see a true republican being laid yo rest, with a quarter of a million watching online which Sinn Féin Féin set up. The PSNI have already stated that there were no problems with it. Establishmemt supporters again trying to take away from their parties failure. No bank bailout? Ha ha

    16
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Pat Andrews
    Favourite Pat Andrews
    Report
    Dec 17th 2020, 5:57 PM

    Just ticking a box… Nothing will happen

    6
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

Leave a commentcancel

 
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds