Bobby Storey funeral: Beattie welcomes PPS review of ‘no prosecution’ decision

The Ulster Unionist’s justice spokesperson said he believes the original decision is “flawed” as the “law must apply equally to everyone”.

It was announced on Tuesday that none of the 24 Sinn Fein members who had been under investigation for potential breaches of the Covid regulations last June would face charges.

However, the Director of Public Prosecutions has now agreed that a review of the original decision will be carried out by a senior PPS lawyer “who was not involved in taking the original decisions”.

Mr Beattie said: “I welcome the announcement of this review, and indeed yesterday I wrote to the DPP requesting one on behalf of my constituents who have been materially affected both financially and emotionally by the original decision not to prosecute.

“The PPS decision not to prosecute has huge ramifications for those that did adhere faithfully to the regulations. Emotionally many of my constituents have been affected by this decision and many have also been affected financially.”

Mr Beattie added: “I believe the original decision was flawed and I will await with interest the findings of this review.

“There is no doubt in my mind that the original decision did great damage to the confidence in the PPS and the local justice system. In any democratic society that purports to operate within the rule of law, the law must apply equally to everyone without exception. Nobody in this society can be off-limits in any investigation, whether that be the President of Sinn Fein or a humble Ulster Unionist MLA from Upper Bann.”

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