Bobby Storey funeral: Private stewards ‘gave the impression they were in charge’ at crematorium

Belfast City Council has been asked to give examples of when it has relied on outside people to act as stewards at Roselawn – but has not identified a single case.
Councillor Rodgers said the council is being brought into disreputeCouncillor Rodgers said the council is being brought into disrepute
Councillor Rodgers said the council is being brought into disrepute

It comes as a member of staff has told the News Letter that individuals appointed by the Storey family had given a clear impression that they were “running the show” when they appeared at the Roselawn crematorium/graveyard complex last Tuesday afternoon.

A member of staff at Belfast City Council contacted the News Letter to express concerns at what happened at Roselawn.

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The council employee, who does not wish to be identified, claims a number of men, identically dressed in white shirts and black trousers, arrived at Roselawn in people-carrier and SUV-type vehicles, and that they approached the council staff controlling access to the site and took over that role.

“There was a clear ‘we are now running the show’ message,” he said.

“The council statement says this is normal practice for high profile funerals but, apart from maybe George Best, this has never happened for anyone that I can remember.

“This was just a dirty deal that was dropped on the staff at Roselawn.

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“The CCTV cameras at the entrance to Roselawn will have captured all that was going on. The councillors just need to initiate an independent investigation before the tapes get wiped.”

The News Letter put a number of questions to the council, including whether it could name any other occasion – besides the colossal funeral for George Best in 2005 – when external stewards were used.

It gave no response to this.

The council had previously said that an unnamed politician had informed it that “people, appointed by the family, would be on site to assist the family” – the rationale being they would recognise and admit only family members.

The council said: “These people, playing a stewarding role for family would work with Belfast City Council staff... This is no different to what would normally be the case in a high profile cremation or one that would potentially attract high numbers of people or media.”

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The council added that it acted “impartially in what is often a complex and difficult political environment”.

DUP and UUP members on the council had already called for an investigation.

And yesterday Jim Rodgers – a UUP veteran and the longest-serving person on the council – said he is due to meet police on Wednesday to discuss signs of “two-tier policing”, adding that loyalist funerals frequently attract a heavier police presence than was seen last Tuesday.

He added: “We need to get to the bottom of this, as it is causing the council to be brought into disrepute.”

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