Bobby Storey funeral: ‘It appears there is one law for ordinary people and another for republicans’

A former top police officer has hit out at what he says is a de facto “amnesty” which republicans enjoy, saying they appear to be exempt from the laws which govern the general population.
By Adam Kula
Published 2nd Jul 2020, 07:00 BST
Bobby Storey at Danny McIlhone's funeral in west Belfast in 2008. The Belfast man went missing in 1981 aged 19 with the IRA admitting to his murder in 1999.Bobby Storey at Danny McIlhone's funeral in west Belfast in 2008. The Belfast man went missing in 1981 aged 19 with the IRA admitting to his murder in 1999.
Bobby Storey at Danny McIlhone's funeral in west Belfast in 2008. The Belfast man went missing in 1981 aged 19 with the IRA admitting to his murder in 1999.

Norman Baxter, who served as a chief superintendent in the RUC and PSNI, has added his voice to the clamour of criticism over the mass gatherings in west Belfast for the funeral of Bobby Storey.

Asked what action he expects to see from police over the event, he said: “Nothing.”

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He told the News Letter: “The scenes at the funeral create a perception that there are two laws in this Province.

“A law for law-abiding citizens, who get penalised for minor breaches; for example, business people fined £3,000 for having customers during coronavirus prohibition.

“But if it’s anything to do with political republicanism basically they get an amnesty, through reluctance to jeopardise the institutions.

“People should think about the hundreds that died isolated from their families during the lockdown, and the thousands of NHS staff who each day risked their lives to treat people.

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“The actions of senior republicans demonstrate a total disregard they have for the real heroes of the fight against the pandemic.

“They are a group of people who don’t recognise the authority of the state, therefore it’s second nature to them to do as they please.”

When it comes to who Bobby Storey actually was, Gerry Adams described him variously as having an “infectious” sense of humour, and as being a “gentle” character.

Mr Baxter said: “Bobby Storey was one of the main causes, one of the main architects, of death and destruction in this Province.

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“So on his passing, whilst I sympathise with the family at a human level, what we’ve witnessed is the eulogisation of a mastermind of inhumane torture and human rights abuses.”

The PSNI was asked what – if any – presence the force had at the funeral.

It said: “Police maintained an appropriate neighbourhood presence and are currently reviewing footage gathered during the funeral.”

Sinn Fein regional leader Michelle O’Neill, who has arguably been the target of most of the flak about the funeral, said she “can stand over my actions” and also said that “it’s unfortunate that a lot of the charges that are being levelled towards me are political points scoring, as opposed to actually being about the rules”.

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