PSNI handling of Bobby Storey funeral to be reviewed

by Rebecca Black, PA

The Police Service of Northern Ireland’s handling of the funeral of senior republican Bobby Storey last year is to be reviewed.

The PSNI has come under fire this week following a decision by the Public Prosecution Service not to pursue prosecutions against 24 Sinn Fein members who attended the funeral despite coronavirus restrictions against gatherings.

The PPS pointed to police engagement with the funeral planners as one reason why any prosecution would likely fail as well as the repeatedly changing and inconsistent nature of Stormont’s coronavirus regulations.

Chief Constable Simon Byrne has faced calls to resign by First Minister Arlene Foster over the matter.

On Thursday, Northern Ireland Policing Board chairman Doug Garrett said a request is to be made for Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary to look at the PSNI’s role in the funeral.

STOREY: Statement from Policing Board Chairman Doug Garrett confirming a request is to be made for Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary to look at the PSNI’s role in the funeral of republican Bobby Storey last year. @NIPolicingBoard pic.twitter.com/Bb8WxEF6WV

— Q Radio News (@qnewsdesk) April 1, 2021

He said members of the board agreed to request that Justice Minister Naomi Long commission a “bespoke thematic inspection into the PSNI’s handling of the policing of the funeral, its operational decision making, application of the law in the context of the Covid-19 regulations, and review the PSNI policy and procedures around police engagement with organisers and consistency of approach given the findings of the Public Prosecution Service (PPS).”

Appearing remotely before a meeting of the board, Mr Byrne said he welcomed the prospect of a review by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary, “as an independent body to come in and help us get an objective understanding of what went on”.

Mr Byrne said police understood and sympathised with the hurt, concern and anger felt by many who complied with the Covid regulations over the last year.

“I recognise that the events surrounding the policing of this funeral have caused outrage and have damaged confidence in policing,” he told the board.

“I’m listening. But I’m confident that my officers have acted with good intent and integrity managing what was always going to be a sensitive policing operation.”