Strict time limit on Bobby Storey funeral probe – but cost to ratepayers a mystery

The News Letter last night obtained a copy of the terms of reference for the review, which it is understood is being carried out by Peter Coll, a QC who represented some of the civil servants in the RHI Inquiry.

Whilst Belfast City Council was last week quoted as saying the probe “is expected to take approximately six weeks”, the actual terms of reference are much firmer – they state that Mr Coll is “ time bound to report in a six week timeframe”, leaving little scope for leeway.

One unionist source within the council believes Mr Coll has been working on the investigation since last Friday, if not earlier; if so, that would mean he has to issue his report by October 23.

One thing that remains unknown is the cost to ratepayers. The unionist source estimated that Mr Coll is likely to be on roughly £1,000 a day.

A second source estimated that it could be even more, perhaps £1,200.

But when the council was asked by the News Letter how much had been set asidefor the review it gave no answer.

Both sources also said that they expect Nigel Grimshaw to give evidence to the review even though he retired from his senior council job last week, having been on leave from the time when the scandal about the funeral broke.

What has already been established is that the council barred eight families from having a service at the council-run Roselawn crematorium on June 30 – and only permitted the family of IRA enforcer and Maze escapee Mr Storey.

The terms of reference for the inquiry (which were drawn up by all parties except Sinn Fein and People Before Profit) also say Mr Coll will inquire into if “any form of control was given to persons acting on behalf of the Storey family in respect of Roselawn Cemetery and whether there is evidence of numbers in excess of those permitted being present outside the crematorium”.