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An external officer has been requested to direct the PSNI\u2019s investigation of potential social-distancing breaches at the funeral of a senior republican.<\/p>\nAn external officer has been requested to direct the PSNI\u2019s investigation of potential social-distancing breaches at the funeral of a senior republican.<\/p>\n
Hundreds of people lined the route of Bobby Storey\u2019s cortege last week despite restrictions placed on the numbers that can attend outdoor gatherings.<\/p>\n
The North’s Deputy First Minister Michelle O\u2019Neill and Finance Minister Conor Murphy have been criticized for taking part in the funeral.<\/p>\n
PSNI Chief Constable Simon Byrne said he has requested an external senior officer to oversee and direct the police investigation into potential breaches of coronavirus regulations at the funeral.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have taken this decision to ensure independent oversight of the investigation,\u201d Mr Byrne said in a statement on Thursday evening.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Police Service of Northern Ireland is also in receipt of a complaint from a member of the public regarding police actions leading up to the funeral on June 30, 2020. This has now been forwarded to the Police Ombudsman for her consideration.\u201d DUP Policing Board Group leader Mervyn Storey welcomed the move as \u201centirely sensible and appropriate\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe scenes in west Belfast and at Roselawn left many feeling there were two tiers in the legal system,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cRestoring credibility to the Covid-19 regulations will be a long road, but the police has a key role to play.\u201d<\/p>\n
Earlier, First Minister Arlene Foster pressed her party\u2019s partners in government for a \u201crecognition that the credibility of messaging was damaged\u201d.<\/p>\n
Mrs Foster and Ms O\u2019Neill have not appeared together for an update on the Executive\u2019s approach to the coronavirus pandemic since the row.<\/p>\n
The First Minister was asked when the joint press conferences will return as she updated the media by herself in Co Fermanagh on Thursday.<\/p>\n
She responded: \u201cIt\u2019s not a case of doing a solo press conference, I am in Fermanagh today, as well as that, there does have to be a recognition that the credibility of messaging was damaged by what happened last week.<\/p>\n
\u201cI hope that we can build that credibility up again, but there has to be a willingness to acknowledge that it was damaged during what happened in west Belfast last Tuesday.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have to lead, it is my duty to lead the Executive. We have a job to do in terms of coronavirus and we certainly have a job to do in relation to the recovery and renewal of Northern Ireland.<\/p>\n
\u201cI very much welcome the Chancellor\u2019s statement yesterday and the extra money that is coming into Northern Ireland, but we still have a huge job of work to do and I am determined to continue to do it.\u201d The Stormont Assembly passed a motion earlier this week urging Ms O\u2019Neill to apologize for attending the funeral during the pandemic.<\/p>\n
The resolution was backed by the DUP, UUP, SDLP and Alliance \u2013 but does not have any practical legal effect.<\/p>\n
Ms O\u2019Neill has apologised \u201cfor grieving families experiencing more hurt\u201d.<\/p>\n