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The Stormont Assembly has passed a motion urging the North’s deputy first minister Michelle O\u2019Neill to apologize for attending Bobby Storey\u2019s funeral during the pandemic.<\/p>\nThe Stormont Assembly has passed a motion urging the North’s deputy first minister Michelle O\u2019Neill to apologize for attending Bobby Storey\u2019s funeral during the pandemic.<\/p>\n
Hundreds lined the route of the veteran republican and former IRA member\u2019s cortege in west Belfast last week.<\/p>\n
The Assembly\u2019s declaration passed without a vote on Tuesday evening.<\/p>\n
DUP Assembly member Christopher Stalford said: \u201cI regret to say that the Deputy First Minister\u2019s credibility is shot to bits.\u201d<\/p>\n
The resolution was backed by the DUP, UUP, SDLP and Alliance but does not have any practical legal effect.<\/p>\n
DUP First Minister Arlene Foster has asked her power-sharing partner to step aside while PSNI officers consider the matter.<\/p>\n
Ms O\u2019Neill has apologized \u201cfor grieving families experiencing more hurt\u201d.<\/p>\n
No new deaths have been recorded with Covid-19 in Northern Ireland, the Department of Health said on Tuesday, leaving the total number of people who have died at 554.<\/p>\n
Another five positive cases have been notified since Monday, bringing the total confirmed cases to 5,761.<\/p>\n
A group of around 30 walked in Mr Storey\u2019s cortege from St Agnes\u2019 Church to Milltown Cemetery.<\/p>\n
Police are investigating whether any social distancing breaches occurred.<\/p>\n
Ms O\u2019Neill has said she did everything she could to minimize numbers including encouraging thousands to watch it online while marshals kept the crowds away from the cortege during the journey through west Belfast.<\/p>\n
On Tuesday she said: \u201cIt was not and would never be my intention to hurt anybody within society.\u201d She added: \u201cI am satisfied that I did act responsibly within the church, as part of the cortege and at Milltown Cemetery.<\/p>\n
“I take very seriously indeed my responsibility as a public office holder.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have acted in accordance with those responsibilities.\u201d <\/p>\n
Mr Storey was cremated at Roselawn cemetery in the east of the city where 30 people were allowed to attend an outdoor committal service.<\/p>\n
The other eight cremations that took place on the same day were not allowed services at the site.<\/p>\n
Belfast City Council has apologised to those families.<\/p>\n