Arlene Foster presses Sinn Fein over Storey funeral issue

By Rebecca Black, PA.

First Minister Arlene Foster has pressed her party's partners in government for a "recognition that the credibility of messaging was damaged".

The DUP leader was speaking a week after deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill and Finance Minister Conor Murphy attended the funeral of senior republican Bobby Storey.

Hundreds lined the route of the veteran republican and former IRA member's cortege in west Belfast last week.

The Sinn Fein ministers have been widely criticised for their attendance at the event, which is being investigated by police for potential breaches of the coronavirus regulations which limit numbers at social gatherings.

Mrs Foster and Ms O'Neill have not appeared together for an update on the Executive's approach to the coronavirus pandemic since the row.

The First Minister was asked when the joint press conferences will return as she updated the media by herself in Co Fermanagh on Thursday.

She responded: "It's not a case of doing a solo press conference, I am in Fermanagh today, as well as that, there does have to be a recognition that the credibility of messaging was damaged by what happened last week.

"I hope that we can build that credibility up again, but there has to be a willingness to acknowledge that it was damaged during what happened in west Belfast last Tuesday.

"I have to lead, it is my duty to lead the Executive. We have a job to do in terms of coronavirus and we certainly have a job to do in relation to the recovery and renewal of Northern Ireland.

"I very much welcome the Chancellor's statement yesterday and the extra money that is coming into Northern Ireland, but we still have a huge job of work to do and I am determined to continue to do it."

The Stormont Assembly passed a motion earlier this week urging Ms O'Neill to apologise for attending the funeral during the pandemic.

The resolution was backed by the DUP, UUP, SDLP and Alliance - but does not have any practical legal effect.

Ms O'Neill has apologised "for grieving families experiencing more hurt"