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Northern Ireland\u2019s police chief has stood by an investigation into allegations of breaches of the coronavirus regulations at the funeral of a senior republican.<\/p>\nNorthern Ireland\u2019s police chief has stood by an investigation into allegations of breaches of the coronavirus regulations at the funeral of a senior republican.<\/p>\n
Deputy First Minister Michelle O\u2019Neill was among 24 questioned over attendance at the funeral of Bobby Storey in west Belfast last year, where crowds gathered despite rules against large public gatherings.<\/p>\n
The North’s Public Prosecution Service said the evidential test for prosecution is not met against any of the individuals reported in connection with the Storey funeral.<\/p>\n
The North’s First Minister Arlene Foster criticized the actions of police around the funeral and called on PSNI Chief Constable Simon Byrne to resign.<\/p>\n
Mr Byrne said he will not quit and stood by police actions.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was employed to do a job here in terms of managing a large complex organization, sometimes decisions don\u2019t go the way that people want but if I stand aside it actually undermines whoever comes after me because public servants need to be held to account yes, but every time something doesn\u2019t go in the way of somebody\u2019s point of view if we have to resign there is no continuity and it undermines and is unwarranted in terms of the constant attacks on public servants,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI stand behind the actions of the senior officers in the planning of this operation, it was entirely consistent with our training and good practice and indeed were I to go, it would undermine our future planning at any event like this because we\u2019re trained to engage and to encourage people\u2019s behavior.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have to hear the voice of the unionist community but we\u2019re here to police impartially, we did that in the run up to the funeral, during the funeral and in the investigation.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Byrne said the decision of the PPS \u201cdoes not change our view that what happened last summer when large numbers of people chose not to stay at home at the height of a pandemic was un necessary, irresponsible and insensitive\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was wrong,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
However, the PSNI chief insisted that using force to prevent the funeral was \u201cnever going to work\u201d or \u201cjustified or proportionate\u201d.<\/p>\n
Mr Byrne also said he wanted to make it clear that while police did engage with the organizers, no deals were done.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe did not turn a blind eye,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhilst we note that the PPS conclude that this tried and tested approach, entirely consistent with national police practice, could have afforded a reasonable excuse to prominent attendees, it is also clear that overall the prosecution outcome would not have been different even if our approach had been given the complexities in the regulations at the time.\u201d<\/p>\n
Assistant Chief Constable Alan Todd said officers will examine the PPS report and learn any lessons they can.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have had the PPS and their lawyers being able to consider the regulations that were in force for three or four months and to give a very defined position on something we had to consider and plan for in two to three days,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo clearly there will be things come out of the PPS report today that we would build into our planning going forward for any future events, and it would be wrong of me to say we wouldn\u2019t learn those lessons.\u201d<\/p>\n