Jim Allister: The closure of Roselawn for Bobby Storey raises questions for Belfast city council and its chief executive

The revelation that in addition to a PSNI facilitated glorification event at the republican plot in the cemetery, Belfast City Council abdicated control of Roselawn to Sinn Fein/IRA stewards, adds a whole new dimension to the Bobby Storey saga.
By Jim Allister
Published 6th Jul 2020, 09:15 BST
Belfast City Council. Did Sinn Fein councillors deliver the special treatment at Roselawn and was the chief executive complicit?Belfast City Council. Did Sinn Fein councillors deliver the special treatment at Roselawn and was the chief executive complicit?
Belfast City Council. Did Sinn Fein councillors deliver the special treatment at Roselawn and was the chief executive complicit?

The revelation that in addition to a PSNI facilitated glorification event at the republican plot in the cemetery, Belfast City Council abdicated control of Roselawn to Sinn Fein/IRA stewards, adds a whole new dimension to the Bobby Storey saga.

If, as now appears, the funeral went to the cemetery only to facilitate an IRA terror fest, then, not only has the PSNI questions to answer as to why, having consulted with the ‘organisers’ they facilitated such a stunt, but the city council must account for why regular staff were sent home from Roselawn, other families inconvenienced and the Provisional elite given the run of the crematorium and area.

Its statement on Friday is inadequate.

Letter to the editorLetter to the editor
Letter to the editor
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Crematorium Covid-19 rules prohibit attendance by mourners, but here, again, Sinn Fein was exempted from the rules applicable to everyone else.

How did this happen?

Did Sinn Fein councillors deliver this special treatment and was the chief executive complicit?

The more that emerges the clearer it is that this was not just an orchestrated breach of the Covid-19 regulations, but a show of Provo Power reaching across the city.

Jim Allister QC MLA, Stormont

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Related topics:PSNISinn FeinBelfast City CouncilJim AllisterIRABelfast