Bobby Storey funeral: Council says ‘we sent staff home early so they would not be photographed’

The council’s statement this morning followed claims that Sinn Fein stewards were present at the crematorium / graveyard site, and that all other cremations for that day were blocked.

TUV leader Jim Allister likened it to “surrendering” the council facility to republicans.

The council statement acknowledges that these things indeed did happen.

Whilst official government guidance says that “cremations will still be carried out but unfortunately, no family or friends can be in attendance”, the council said that mourners did in fact gather – outside the cremation building – and that this was ok within the rules.

The statement on behalf of Belfast City Council said: “Roselawn Crematorium chapel and indoor facilities is closed to all mourners due to COVID-19.

“Mourners have the option of holding an outdoor service outside the crematorium chapel.

“The NI Executive set out guidance to permit 30 people to gather outside, which permitted us to offer this as an option for mourners.

“All cremations held on Tuesday complied with the guidance set out by the NI Executive.”

It added that “a local elected representative” (whom the council did not name) had contacted council officials by telephone to inform the council officials “that people, appointed by the family, would be on site... ensuring that the only people given access to the site would be family”.

They were to “work with” (not instead of) the council’s staff, the council said, adding “this is no different to what would normally be the case in a high-profile cremation”.

During COVID-19, Roselawn opening hours for visitors to the cemetery are Tuesday evening, Thursday evening and Sunday.

Gates are closed the remainder of the time – and the council said this was the case on Tuesday.

When it comes to ordering staff home, the council said: “Some non-cremation staff who would normally finish at 4pm, finished at 2pm and the last member of staff due to finish at 4pm, finished at 3pm.

“This decision was made in order to avoid a situation where staff would be photographed, as has happened with other high profile funerals or sensitive cremations in the past.”

The council also said it made a decision to “hold the last three cremation slots of the day... in order to protect the privacy of other members of the public and their cremation services”.

The council said it acted “impartially in what is often a complex and difficult political environment”.

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