DUP motion on Storey funeral

DUP motion on Storey funeral

14 April 2021

LOCAL politicians will next month be asked to back a DUP motion that everyone who attended the funeral of senior Republican Bobby Storey breached Covid regulations and “severely undermined”  the Northern Ireland Executive’s public health messaging.

Senior Sinn Fein figures, including deputy first minister Michelle O’Neill, attended the funeral in June last year and were widely criticised for doing so.

A decision was subsequently made by the Public Prosecution Service not to prosecute anyone in connection with the funeral after reviewing files forwarded to it by the PSNI, but was followed by confirmation that the ruling would be independently reviewed.

An attempt by Mournes DUP councillor, Glyn Hanna to have the emergency notice of motion tabled at last week’s monthly meeting of Newry, Mourne and Down Council failed and will now be tabled next month.

The motion calls on councillors to acknowledge that the attendance of Sinn Fein politicians at the Storey funeral resulted in a breach of Covid-19 regulations and “severely undermined” the messaging by the Northern Ireland Executive to prevent the spread of the virus. 

The DUP motion also welcomes the Public Prosecution Service decision to revisit the case “given the significant public concerns that exist on this matter”.

Council chairwoman Laura Devlin ruled at last week’s meeting that Standing Orders — the rules which govern local authority business — could only be suspended to allow an emergency motion to be tabled if 80% of councillors present were in agreement.

When the issue was put to the vote, 13 members voted in favour of the motion being heard, with 14 voting against.

Raising a point of order in relation to the councillors’ code of conduct, Cllr Hanna said it was his understanding that a number of the council’s Sinn Fein members had attended the Storey funeral last summer, asking if their presence precluded them from debating the motion.

Cllr Devlin said it was up to councillors to declare an interest when they were debating issues.

She added: “There is nothing within Standing Orders that allows me to dictate to any particular member.

“We all at this point should be aware of our responsibilities within the councillors’ code of conduct. Whatever party wishes to declare an interest it is up to them to do so.”