Bobby Storey funeral: Michelle O’Neill’s comments ‘far from the apology demanded by Arlene Foster’

That is the view of TUV leader Jim Allister who said if the DUP “accept” the Sinn Fein Deputy First Minister’s comments it would represent “a case of them shifting their ground and climbing down to Sinn Fein”.

Mrs O’Neill, in an interview with the Irish broadcaster RTE, expressed regret that large crowds attended veteran IRA figure Bobby Storey’s funeral in Belfast in June and appeared to acknowledge her attendance had undermined messaging on public health.

In July, DUP First Minister Arlene Foster urged Mrs O’Neill to consider stepping down.

It has been two-and-a-half months since the First and Deputy First Ministers appeared at a press conference to deliver the latest announcements from the Northern Ireland Executive on coronavirus — something which had been a regular sight before the Bobby Storey funeral.

The Stormont Executive is meeting today to decide whether to tighten coronavirus restrictions as the number of cases of the virus continues to rise.

Today, following Mrs O’Neill’s latest comments, the DUP leader said: “The Storey funeral fundamentally undermined the Northern Ireland Executive’s Covid-19 rules and confused our messaging.

“The public messaging was significantly undermined as a result of the attendance at the funeral by those who make the law and regulations.

“It is right that the Deputy First Minister has acknowledged the undermining of the public messaging as a result of what happened, and the deep hurt and anger that was caused as a result of Michelle O’Neill’s action. Those who set the rules must abide by the rules.”

TUV leader Jim Allister, meanwhile, said: “Ms O’Neill’s extremely belated comments on the Bobby Storey funeral are far from the apology once demanded by Mrs Foster.

“The demand for the deputy First Minister to step aside seems to be long forgotten. Michelle O’Neill has previously said that she will ‘never apologise’ for attending the funeral. Has that changed? Do you apologise for attending the funeral?”

He continued: “If the DUP accept this it will once again be a case of them shifting their ground and climbing down to Sinn Fein.”

Mr Allister added: “O’Neill has merely expressed regret for undermining the public health message. This from the same party which has expressed regret people died in The Troubles yet continues to argue that their campaign of terror was not only justified but something which should be celebrated.”