Ben Lowry: After republicans presided over a massive breach of social distancing, Michelle O’Neill is back lecturing the public on TV

In any one year, around 20,000 people are born in Northern Ireland and around 20,000 people die.
By Ben Lowry
Published 12th Sep 2020, 12:00 BST
Updated 12th Sep 2020, 12:21 BST
Sinn Fein's president Mary Lou McDoanld and deputy first minister Michelle O'Neill at the funeral of senior Bobby Storey in west Belfast on Juney 30, in which thousands of people came on the streets when social distancing rules were still highly restrictive. Photo: Liam McBurney/PA WireSinn Fein's president Mary Lou McDoanld and deputy first minister Michelle O'Neill at the funeral of senior Bobby Storey in west Belfast on Juney 30, in which thousands of people came on the streets when social distancing rules were still highly restrictive. Photo: Liam McBurney/PA Wire
Sinn Fein's president Mary Lou McDoanld and deputy first minister Michelle O'Neill at the funeral of senior Bobby Storey in west Belfast on Juney 30, in which thousands of people came on the streets when social distancing rules were still highly restrictive. Photo: Liam McBurney/PA Wire

Thus since the start of lockdown six months ago about 10,000 or so people have died. It is a sign of the success of anti Covid strategies that more than 90% of those people did not die due to the pandemic.

Given that in normal circumstances a typical funeral will attract dozens of mourners, and often hundreds, it is reasonable to speculate that hundreds of thousands of people in NI have missed a funeral due to the social distancing rules.

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Such widespread obedience made Sinn Fein’s flagrant breach of the regulations at the funeral of an IRA leader so outrageous.

Arlene Foster and Michelle O'Neill preside over a joint Covid press briefing in late June, days before the IRA funeral, after which Mrs Foster refused to make joint appearances, until this week, two and a half months later. Picture by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye.Arlene Foster and Michelle O'Neill preside over a joint Covid press briefing in late June, days before the IRA funeral, after which Mrs Foster refused to make joint appearances, until this week, two and a half months later. Picture by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye.
Arlene Foster and Michelle O'Neill preside over a joint Covid press briefing in late June, days before the IRA funeral, after which Mrs Foster refused to make joint appearances, until this week, two and a half months later. Picture by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye.

Other factors exacerbated the insult. One was the way that Michelle O’Neill was not merely at the helm of deciding and announcing what we all could and could not do, but was self righteous in that role. Her party was scathing about Tory incompetence and callousness over Covid. They were most shrill on the need for tighter lockdown. They even held back on opening cemeteries until pressure from their own community.

No-one was surprised when various republican funerals ignored the rules. Republicans do as they please. But for Sinn Fein politicians then to preside over the biggest funeral breach of them all, helped by the PSNI and Belfast City Council, pushed the scandal to new levels.

Yet Ms O’Neill can still tell us what to do after that calculated breach. In fact, she is back on our screens, lecturing the public.

• Ben Lowry (@BenLowry2) is News Letter deputy editor

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Related topics:Michelle O'NeillBen LowryNorthern IrelandSinn FeinIRABelfast City CouncilPSNI