Martina Anderson says Michelle O'Neill had to be at funeral of Bobby Storey; Colum Eastwood calls for Deputy First Minister to stand down

SDLP MP Colum Eastwood, however, alongside local DUP representatives, has called on Mrs. O’Neill to stand down.

The Derry MLA, who formed part of the guard of honour in West Belfast, said the Sinn Féin vice-president 'had to be there' during a briefing of the Stormont Executive Office Committee on Wednesday.

The meeting which was attended by Mrs. O'Neill and the First Minister Arlene Foster had been due to deal with the latest response to COVID-19 and the Executive Committee (Functions) Bill.

However, the controversy over Mrs. O’Neill’s attendance at the funeral and whether or not the coronavirus regulations had been adhered to were raised by several committee members.

“We need to be mindful that Theresa, Bobby’s partner, Bobby’s sister and two brothers and the extended family: their hearts are broken and so are ours. We are all very, very heartbroken with the sudden death of Bobby Storey and, Michelle, you had to be there [on Tuesday]. The republican family needed you there because you gave us comfort and guidance. To the family of Bobby Storey and to the wider republican family.

“And I know that today you have been the subject of a lot of comments and I want to say that I want to thank you on behalf of all of us because we couldn’t have got through yesterday without the support that you have given us over this week,” said Ms. Anderson.

East Derry DUP MLA George Robinson called on Mrs. O’Neill to resign.

“I would ask you to apologise to those grieving families who have lost loved ones to this horrific virus and if not you should consider your position with your resignation. I’m sorry I have to say that but I think it was disgraceful what happened [on Tuesday},” he said.

The Deputy First Minister responded: “To anybody that’s lost a loved one in this crisis when the restrictions were what they were our hearts really go out to them because it was such a trying and difficult time and I think that we are going to have to find ways to support those people going forward because people are going to need to have an opportunity to deal with their grief and find a way to actually mourn and to heal.”

Today Mr. Eastwood called on Mrs. O’Neill to temporarily stand aside pending an investigation into alleged breaches of guidelines.

“The SDLP did not rush to judgment on this. We waited to hear from Michelle O’Neill at her scrutiny committee yesterday. We considered her response and have, unfortunately, been disappointed with the absence of contrition and the failure to acknowledge that attending this mass gathering was a mistake that put people at risk,” he said.

During the briefing on Wednesday the First Minister Arlene Foster said: "I too was forced from my home at the age of eight by the IRA. My entire family forced from our ancestral home near the border all because my father was a police officer and a Protestant. So we could all sit here and reminisce about things that have happened in the past.

"We are supposed to be talking about the COVID-19 regulations and how they have impacted on the people of Northern Ireland and how we need to make sure that we give clear messages out as an Executive in relation to making sure that they are followed. I think the credibility of that message has been severely damaged as a result of what happened yesterday," she said.