The Ulster Unionist Party’s Justice Spokesperson, Doug Beattie MC MLA, has called for robust action following public breaches of Covid regulations at another republican funeral.
Doug Beattie MC MLA said:
“It is quite clear from the scenes at the Londonderry funeral of former IRA terrorist Eamon McCourt, that once again Covid regulations have been deliberately and flagrantly disregarded.
“Police must take robust action against those who were present and breaching regulations. Sinn Fein must also act if any of their representatives were in attendance, because to gather in such a manner is to stick two fingers up to the rest of society.
“We are all being asked to make sacrifices and limit contacts so as to halt the spread of Covid and save lives. Clearly some people seem to have the bizarre and mistaken belief that republican funerals are somehow Covid free zones.
“There is no doubt in my mind that this situation could have been avoided if the police had taken action following the scenes at the funeral of Bobby Storey on 30 June last year. The Chief Constable’s failure to act swiftly in the aftermath has had a very negative impact and undoubtedly emboldened the participants at the McCourt funeral in Londonderry.
“It is utterly shameful that such a gathering should take place in open defiance of the regulations which the rest of society is being told to abide by, and at a time when people are gasping for breath and dying scared and alone.”