“Widespread violence and disorder” would have followed any attempt to disperse large crowds attending the funeral of IRA veteran Bobby Storey - Chief Constable Simon Byrne

He said that “widespread violence and disorder” would have followed any attempt to disperse large crowds or around 1,800 people attending the funeral of IRA veteran Bobby Storey.

Mr Byrne, in an interview with the BBC, also defended how the investigation was handled and said the potential breaches of health regulations was “in its end stages”.

He also acknowledged “hurt” had been caused by the policing of Black Lives Matter protests.

However Mr Byrne declined to apologise.

There has been lingering criticisms of how the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) dealt with the events, which occurred in June amid curbs on large gatherings.

Last month, a report by the Policing Board found police actions at the Black Lives Matter demonstrations in Belfast and Londonderry may have been unlawful in preventing legitimate protest.

In an interview with BBC News NI, Mr Byrne said he was not prepared to apologise at this stage.

Referring to a continuing Police Ombudsman investigation, he said: “If in the fullness of time we have got things wrong I will come out and say so.

“The time to do apologies is when we have got the total picture.”

He has announced a new community relations task force, which will work to build a better bond with ethnic minorities.

Police largely stayed away during Bobby Storey’s funeral, leaving Sinn Féin stewards in charge of mourners, who included several of its ministers in the Northern Ireland Executive.

Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill, one of 24 people under investigation, later admitted the public health message had been undermined.

Mr Byrne said the PSNI had not abdicated its responsibilities.

“We are in nobody’s pocket, we do not collude with anybody, we just have to use discretion which is at the heart of our policing style.”

He said it was “not appropriate” to comment on what the police and Sinn Féin had discussed in advance of the funeral.

Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald had previously said it had been “meticulously” planned with the PSNI.

Acknowledging there was no review or investigation into police actions that he was aware of, Mr Byrne told the BBC: “I am limited about what I can say at the moment.

“I do not want to be drawn about who said what, to who and when, just at this point in time.

“It is absolutely right to ask the question, but it would be best answered in a few weeks.”

READ - Unionists seeking answers after it is made clear Bobby Storey coffin went to Roselawn Cemetery__Gerry Adams attended Roselawn cemetery for funeral service of Bobby Storey - but 8 other grieving families were not allowed in as their loved ones were cremated_________________________________________________A message from our editor: Thank you for reading this article. We’re more reliant on your support than ever as the shift in consumer habits brought about by Coronavirus impacts our advertisers.Please consider purchasing a copy of the paper. You can also support trusted, fact-checked journalism by taking out a digital subscription of the News Letter.