Wilful disregard for social distancing at Sinn Fein show of strength makes a mockery of restrictions

MICHELLE O’neill has frequently stated that she “followed the science” in her response to the coronavirus pandemic. However, her recent participation in the funeral of Robert Storey demonstrated that she actually follows the lead of the IRA Army Council.

Consequently she, like other democratically elected senior Sinn Fein members to northern and southern institutions, ended up following the funeral cortege of the veteran republican in complete breach of her own guidelines on social distancing.

In fact the overriding objective of the leadership was seemingly to get as large a gathering as possible out for the funeral. Indeed, it has been revealed that Sinn Fein activists in Derry not only actively recruited local people to travel to Belfast for the funeral, but asked them to wear the black-and-white “uniform” on display for the day.

Public signs were put up giving directions to the funeral — presumably intended for the numerous mourners travelling from outside Belfast.

Roselawn crematorium was later virtually annexed by Sinn Fein and closed to others for the afternoon to allow Storey’s cremation to take precedence.

There could be a potential spike in coronavirus cases resulting from this large public display, coupled with the disregard for social distancing rules. The credibility of the Stormont Executive in tackling the pandemic has also been severely jeopardised.

All this was foreseeable and evidently deemed to be acceptable collateral damage in the furtherance of the republican agenda. All citizens are equal but, as in Animal Farm, some are just more equal than others.

Some are even exempt from the pandemic restrictions.

NAME AND ADDRESS WITH EDITOR