Bobby Storey funeral: Arlene Foster stops short of demanding Michelle O’Neill step down

Calls for Michelle O’Neill to quit her post as Deputy First Minister are increasing – but Arlene Foster has stopped short of demanding she step down.
Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 30th June 2020

The funeral of Bobby Storey has taken place in Belfast.

Photo by Philip Magowan / Press EyePress Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 30th June 2020

The funeral of Bobby Storey has taken place in Belfast.

Photo by Philip Magowan / Press Eye
Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 30th June 2020 The funeral of Bobby Storey has taken place in Belfast. Photo by Philip Magowan / Press Eye

Ms O’Neill walked with the coffin for about a mile, passing thousands of onlookers who had turned out to pay their respects to the dead IRA figure.

She then gave an address at the graveside, as a crowd of literally countless mourners gathered.

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It is impossible to say how many people took part or watched the mass, cortege procession and graveside oration, but this reporter estimates it would have been at least several thousand.

Alliance MLA (for Strangford) Kellie Armstrong, who sits on Stormont’s Ad Hoc Committee on the COVID-19 Response, has said she should go after she attended – along with other Sinn Fein members – a colossal funeral gathering for Bobbie Storey.

Ms Armstrong said “a coach and horses were driven through the guidelines”, telling the Nolan Show the scenes were “a slap in the face” to those who had obeyed the rules.

She said: “In any other normal democracy it is absolutely resignation territory... I will stick my neck out here and say it’s time for SF to re-evaluate and for Michelle to step aside.”

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Also speaking to the show was UUP MLA Doug Beattie who said: “She should step aside now. Because she absolutely damaged the office of the Executive. How is anybody going to listen to her now?”

Matthew O’Toole, SDLP MLA, said she should “reflect” – but declined to call for her to quit.

Asked bluntly if she is calling for Michelle O’Neill to stand aside, Ms Foster said in a radio interview this morning that Sinn Fein “need to hear the very clear upset, very clear anger, hurt, and need to do something in relation to that”.

She added the party must “recognise there has been wrongdoing and then to apologise and to make amends... the ball is in their court”.

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