Statement by TUV leader Jim Allister:
“For months Michelle O’Neill has joined Arlene Foster at almost daily press conferences stressing the importance of adhering to the coronavirus regulations. Many people have foregone important events, including the funerals of close family and friends, because Ms O’Neill told them that no more than 10 people should attend
“In light of the fact that Ms O’Neill is today present with many hundreds of others at the funeral of Bobby Storey her position is untenable. Just hours earlier she had told the public that up to 30 could meet outdoors with social distancing. There was precious little evidence of social distancing today and an awful lot more than the 10 supposedly permitted for funerals or indeed 30 at the funeral she and other senior Republicans from both sides of the border attended today. Clearly paying respects to convicted terrorist Storey was more important than upholding the law which Ms O’Neill’s own department brought before the Assembly.
“Her conduct is grossly offensive and insulting to the many law-abiding people who have made the huge sacrifice of foregoing a normal funeral as they said farewell to family member who died recently.
“Sinn Fein Ministers should not be permitted to strip people of their fundamental rights in deference to public safety while choosing when to exercise those rights regardless when they feel the need to pay tribute to a terrorist.
“How can the public be expected to take any more lectures from the Executive seriously after today’s scenes in West Belfast? Are the only crowds in which COVID-19 cannot spread Republican funerals?”