First Minister says it is 'right' for Michelle O'Neill to admit wrongdoing

By PA Reporter

Stormont First Minister Arlene Foster said it was right that Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill acknowledged undermining public health messaging on coronavirus.

Ms O’Neill has said she regrets that large crowds attended veteran republican Bobby Storey’s funeral in Belfast in June.

The Deputy First Minister acknowledged Stormont’s public health messaging capacity had been undermined by the row over the funeral.

She told RTE this week: “It wasn’t my intention this would happen, but it did, I accept this and I regret this is the case.

“I accept that we have not been able to deliver clear messaging in the format that was the practice before this controversy.”

Taoiseach says he welcomes statement from Sinn Féin's Michelle O'Neill, who acknowledged public health messaging was undermined by the funeral of Bobby Storey. He adds that it should have come sooner | https://t.co/Mv8pa3hjZ1 pic.twitter.com/epUXkfT34m

— RTÉ News (@rtenews) September 10, 2020

Large crowds lined the streets to pay tributes to the former IRA volunteer. 

The DUP leader said O'Neill's decision to admit wrongdoing was the 'right' one.

Arlene Foster said: “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.”

Ms O'Neill was among mourners who attended the funeral, along with party leader Mary Lou McDonald, despite Covid-19 restrictions.

However, the trust between members of the Stormont coalition and Michelle O’Neill’s credibility in delivering Covid-19 health messaging have been damaged by the controversy over large crowds as the cortege passed through west Belfast, the DUP leader has previously said.

Ms O’Neill initially stood by her decision to go to the service for the senior republican but did apologise to families bereaved during lockdown for any hurt caused by scenes of hundreds of people lining the route.

Arlene Foster could face a job in persuading members of her own DUP to back any decision to resume joint coronavirus briefings.

Her party’s Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart said: “The consequences of their blatant disregard for the public health message is evidenced in the case count, yet sorry seems to be the hardest word.

“Breathtaking arrogance. What they expect of others they won’t do themselves.”