Pressure mounts on SF as Foster demands party say who was at IRA man’s funeral

She was speaking after Sinn Fein’s Gerry Kelly said “two or three” councillors attended the gathering, which is just the latest of at least six republican funerals to have drawn the attention of the PSNI during the coronavirus crisis.

Sinn Fein had been at the forefront of mourning 62-year-old ex-gunman Mr McCourt after he died while suffering from coronavirus; a tribute broadcast was set up on Monday night via the party’s Londonderry Facebook account in which ex-Foyle MLA Raymond McCartney praised his deceased comrade.

The News Letter last night phoned all 11 SF councillors on Derry City and Strabane District Council; four answered.

Two (Sandra Duffy and Aileen Mellon) would not say if they were there, and referred the paper to the party press office. Another two (Kieran McGuire and Ruairi McHugh) said they were not present.

The press office was asked via email how many SF figures were present, but had not answered at time of writing.

Michelle O’Neill also declined to be drawn over the latest funeral furore, while the party did make time last night to issue a press release saying it stands “in solidarity with Indian farmers and workers against the repressive right-wing regime of Modi”.

Mrs Foster told PA news agency: “We need to hear from Sinn Fein – who was at the funeral? We’ve seen all of the footage and it very clearly shows there were a huge number of people walking in very close contact to the funeral.

“I understand that there were only a limited number inside the chapel, but in terms of walking in close proximity behind the funeral cortege, I think it’s very clear restrictions were broken and that indeed raises questions for the police.”

Sinn Fein’s Michelle O’Neill declined to comment on the funeral when asked on Tuesday, insisting her focus was on a new report about mother and baby homes.

However, Gerry Kelly had told the BBC earlier in the day: “Let me make it very clear that Sinn Fein was not involved in organising this funeral.”

He said “two or three” Sinn Fein councillors attended in a personal capacity, but stood on the roadside and – to his knowledge – were not part of the cortege, and he was “fairly certain” no Sinn Fein MLAs were present.

Prior to the funeral on Monday, the Facebook account belonging to Mr McCourt posted the following message: “Folks my father’s remains will be leaving the family home around 9:15am, everyone is entitled to attend for he deserves a fitting farewell, but please everyone lets use our heads with social distancing and masks ect.

“Only a small number is allowed in the Chapel but the cemetery will be open to all for his final goodbye. Rest easy da will see it through up the ra!”

The Covid guidance on funerals currently states: “Funeral arrangements should not be advertised in newspapers or online services.

“Notice of the death can be placed but specific arrangements should not appear.”

It also says: “If the death is COVID-19 related... the remains are not to be taken to a private dwelling.

“A maximum of 25 mourners are permitted to attend the committal of a body at a graveside. This includes clergy/officiants and children under 12 years old (funeral staff and cemetery operatives are excluded from this number.)”

An online guide to the current Covid rules also states: “You may not organise, operate or participate in a gathering of more than 25 persons for the purpose of a funeral or associated event.”

The PSNI, late on Monday night, had issued a statement in the name of Chief Supt. Darrin Jones saying: “Over the weekend, police became aware of a funeral, planned for Monday 25 January, which had the potential to draw a significant number of people.

“As a result, police engaged with representatives of the family of the deceased, the local church and local political representatives.

“Across these engagements, police emphasised the need for adherence to the current health protection regulations... Regrettably at the funeral on Monday morning, a significant number of people gathered as part of the cortège, in a manner likely to be in breach of the health protection regulations. As a result, police have commenced an investigation into the matter.”

At the opening of proceedings at Stormont yesterday, TUV MLA Jim Allister raised the matter as a point of order, saying “we have a party of government in the house that today is refusing to say whether any of its public representatives were present and, indeed, is refusing to condemn the situation – how can the house hope to command public support?”

The News Letter’s coverage so far of the story:

Click here: Images emerge of crowd of mourners at new republican funeral procession

Click here: ‘Painful sight for many bereaved relatives’: DUP hits out over republican funeral

Click here: IN FULL: PSNI opens investigation into IRA man’s funeral – ‘likely Covid breaches’

Click here: SF figure indicates republican funeral was toned-down event

Click here: Late IRA man Eamonn McCourt ‘killed one of his own comrades by mistake’

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