Sinn Fein figures to learn prosecution decision over Bobby Storey funeral scenes

Senior Sinn Fein figures are expected to learn later whether they will face action over alleged breaches of Covid-19 regulations at the funeral of a senior republican.

Party vice president and Stormont deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill was among those interviewed by police over the scenes at Bobby Storey’s funeral in west Belfast in June last year.

The Public Prosecution Service has been considering police evidence files on 24 individuals, including several senior members of the party.

The PPS is expected to inform those individuals of its decisions later on Tuesday.

Bobby Storey funeral
Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald (left) and deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill at a memorial event for Bobby Storey at Milltown Cemetery in west Belfast (Liam McBurney/PA)

The funeral of the high-profile republican and former IRA leader was one of the most controversial events to occur during the coronavirus pandemic in Northern Ireland.

More than 1,000 people lined the streets for Mr Storey’s funeral procession at a time when strict limits on such events were in place.

The attendance of Sinn Fein leaders at the funeral and a subsequent memorial event at nearby Milltown Cemetery sparked a major political row at Stormont, with the republican party accused of disregarding rules they set for the rest of society.

Ms O’Neill, party president Mary Lou McDonald, former president Gerry Adams, Stormont Finance Minister Conor Murphy, TD Pearse Doherty, Policing Board members Gerry Kelly and Linda Dillon, and MLA Martina Anderson were among senior republicans who attended.

It is understood the police files under consideration by the PPS did not feature individuals resident in the Irish Republic.

Bobby Storey (Liam McBurney/PA)

The Police Service of Northern Ireland commissioned Mark Webster, Deputy Chief Constable of Cumbria Police, to oversee its investigation into the events around the funeral.

Commanders sought external direction as those who attended the funeral included Sinn Fein members of the Policing Board, which is the police’s oversight body.

The PPS is also expected to make public decisions over alleged breaches of regulations at three other funerals, including that of former Sinn Fein councillor Francie McNally in Co Tyrone in April 2020.

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