Sinn Fein failure to condemn republican procession’s breach of Covid-19 rules shows the party’s rhetoric to be hypocritical

That sense has been heightened in recent weeks, with flagrant breaches of government norms, such as the disgraceful Sinn Fein u-turn 24 hours after the agreed position on school closures.

Not only did Michelle O’Neill suddenly announce that reversal, days later Martina Anderson praised schools that defied the education department and closed. Such talk could have scared children.

Now, across Europe, countries are wondering if in fact pupils might be able to return to school before summer, given that their educations are being blighted and that evidence increasingly suggests they are least at risk from Covid- 19.

Meanwhile, Ms O’Neill undermined Robin Swann as health minister and Conor Murphy was prepared to send almost £200 million to Dublin for a protection equipment ‘joint order’ that did not exist, and much of which when it arrived was faulty (for some reason, Mr Swann’s leader Steve Aiken actually praised Mr Murphy in Stormont on Wednesday).

This column examined some of that appalling political conduct yesterday. Just as it was published, news emerged of a sizeable gathering for a pre funeral procession for Francis ‘Francie’ McNally, a former Sinn Fein councillor.

For more than two weeks, the great bulk of Northern Ireland people have so overwhelmingly adhered to government advice during a medical crisis that some people who have to isolate have been unable to attend the burial of a loved one.

No image has emerged that is remotely similar to that of Wednesday’s procession for Mr McNally, yet as we report on page five, police have stopped people for lesser breaches.

Sinn Fein’s has failed to condemn this incident. It would be bad enough if they had been neutral on how to respond to Covid-19 but they have zealously accused the UK of slackness.

Yet few people will be surprised that, in addition to de-stabilising political conduct, their rhetoric is hypocritical too.