Lockdown one year on: ‘Minimising mourners meant fewer funerals’

A relative of one of the oldest Orangemen in the country has lamented the relatively-low key funeral they were forced to stage for him – but believes it was the right move to prevent further fatalities.
By Adam Kula
Published 24th Mar 2021, 09:55 BST
Updated 24th Mar 2021, 15:39 BST
Robert Alexander and his son SidneyRobert Alexander and his son Sidney
Robert Alexander and his son Sidney

Robbie Alexander lived in the townland of Gillygooley, in the far west of Co Tyrone.

A farmer, he was aged 99 when he died last May – and was an Orangeman for 77 of those years.

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Now one year on from the beginning of the first nationwide locksdown, UUP councillor Chris Smyth, his step-grandson, said: “Robbie was a giant in community and Orange circles. I’ve no doubt that had the restrictions not been in place, it would have been a humungous funeral, befitting of a man of his standing who contributed so much.

“I think one of the things that sort of defines Northern Ireland is how we tend to deal with death, especially in rural areas, as a community. That’s been kind of taken from us by the virus.

“But it was undeniably the right thing to do. It prevented more funerals.”

Looking back on Covid-19’s arrival:

February 2020: It is a matter of when, not if, coronavirus appears in NI: officials

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March 2020: Half the Northern Irish population getting Covid-19 ‘is not a wild guess’ says viral expert doctor

December 2020: Counting cost of Covid curbs: 30,000 NI job losses by end of 2020 predicts top economist

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Related topics:Northern Ireland