Police tight-lipped on whether Sinn Fein ministers at Bobby Storey funeral given letters

The PSNI has declined to say whether or not any Sinn Fein ministers have received letters as part of the police’s investigation into Bobby Storey’s funeral.
PACEMAKER PRESS BELFAST  30/6/2020  The funeral of senior republican Bobby Storey which took place today at St. Agnes' Church, Belfast. The funeral procession left the church before heading to Milltown Cemetery, where he was buried in the Republican Plot. Gerry Adams gave an oration in the cemetery. The funeral was attended by leading republicans and senior Sinn Fein members.  Photo Pacemaker PressPACEMAKER PRESS BELFAST  30/6/2020  The funeral of senior republican Bobby Storey which took place today at St. Agnes' Church, Belfast. The funeral procession left the church before heading to Milltown Cemetery, where he was buried in the Republican Plot. Gerry Adams gave an oration in the cemetery. The funeral was attended by leading republicans and senior Sinn Fein members.  Photo Pacemaker Press
PACEMAKER PRESS BELFAST 30/6/2020 The funeral of senior republican Bobby Storey which took place today at St. Agnes' Church, Belfast. The funeral procession left the church before heading to Milltown Cemetery, where he was buried in the Republican Plot. Gerry Adams gave an oration in the cemetery. The funeral was attended by leading republicans and senior Sinn Fein members. Photo Pacemaker Press

The PSNI issued a statement on Friday saying that correspondence has been sent “to individuals who were identified as having been present” at the colossal funeral gathering on June 30.

The letters relate to “potential breaches” of the anti-pandemic regulations.

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Meanwhile the Executive Office remains silent on the question of whether the Deputy First Minister was chauffeured to the IRA enforcer’s funeral in her official ministerial car.

The investigation into the flouting of the lockdown laws at the funeral is been run by the Deputy Chief Constable of Cumbria Constabulary in north-west England, Mark Webster, after the PSNI called him in as an independent assessor of the event.

Mr Webster said: “The letters are inviting these individuals to participate in a voluntary interview with investigating officers at a local police station.

“Upon receipt of a letter individuals will have 14 days to respond should they wish to take part in an interview.

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“As this matter remains a live investigation there will be no further commentary at this time.”

The PSNI was asked if it could confirm whether any Sinn Fein figures had been sent letters (given the large numbers of prominent political faces at the funeral).

It would not say, and nor would the Executive Office itself.

The question was also put to Sinn Fein, but no response had been received at time of writing.

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Meanwhile, the Executive Office has continued stonewalling on the question of whether official government vehicles were used in connection with the funeral.

It is a question to which TUV leader Jim Allister has been seeking answers for months.

It has already been established that finance minister Conor Murphy had ordered his Executive vehicle to take him to the funeral, and that Caral Ni Chuilin, the communities minister, had done the same.

However, the same question from Mr Allister to the Executive Office, asking about whether Michelle O’Neill and junior Executive Office minister Declan Kearney used their official cars on the day, remains unanswered.

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It is now about seven weeks after the point when a response was due.

Mr Allister said today: ”Stormont might wish that this matter would just go away but I will continue to press for accountability.”

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