Unionist politicians condemn crowds attending Eamon ‘Peggy’ McCourt funeral

The 62-year-old, who reportedly died with Covid-19, was buried yesterday.

DUP MP Gregory Campbell said there needed to be “swift action to see just how many people attended the funeral” to determine how badly the COVID-19 restrictions were breached.

DUP MLA Gary Middleton said those who had abided by Covid-19 restrictions would view the scenes from the funeral “with dismay”.

He said it was “hard to put into words the sheer recklessness of those involved”.

“Within republicanism it seems that certain individuals are viewed as being more important than public health regulations,” Mr Middleton said.

“In those minds the reality of Covid-19 has not been brought home, or at the very least it is viewed as less important than having a public display at a funeral.

“Such sights are most painful for relatives who have recognised the need for such painful restrictions to be put in place and have abided by them.”

South Antrim DUP MLA and Policing Board member Trevor Clarke added: “The PSNI need to explain their actions, or repeated inaction in such situations.

“The Chief Constable needs to detail whether officers had knowledge of arrangements for this funeral and explain the inaction of police.

“Incidents such as this do nothing to remove the appearance of two-tier policing which the PSNI is always so keen to dismiss. Without clear answers it will only serve to further erode public confidence.

“Public health regulations apply equally to everyone and they should be enforced equally. No-one is above the law and when the law is breached so publicly there must be an expectation that prosecution will follow.”

Ulster Unionist councillor, Alderman Darren Guy, also condemned the photographs of the event.

He said “it was evident that social-distancing measures and permitted mourner numbers were completely ignored by those in attendance”.

“Again, the majority of people in Northern Ireland who have followed lockdown measures since March 2020 are asking themselves why can republicans do whatever they like?,” he added.

He called on the police to explain why such “a large funeral procession was permitted to take place and what actions will follow”.

In a statement, Sinn Féin said: “Everyone has a responsibility to follow the public health guidelines.

“Sinn Féin held its own tribute to his memory online.”

In June last year, about 1,800 people attended the funeral of leading IRA member Bobby Storey in west Belfast.

Among them was Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill, the Sinn Féin vice-president, who later admitted the public health message had been undermined.

In May, Assistant Chief Constable Alan Todd said there had been social-distancing breaches at funerals in Northern Ireland in both the unionist and nationalist communities.

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