Pressure continues for Michelle O'Neill to step aside following republican funeral

Good afternoon

The fall-out from the attendance of deputy first minister Michelle O’Neill and other Sinn Fein ministers at the funeral of IRA veteran Bobby Storey shows no signs of abating.

On Thursday, every other party in the Stormont Executive called on Ms O’Neill to stand down amidst the claims that coronavirus guidelines were not adhered to during the funeral in west Belfast earlier this week.

The planned joint appearance by first minister Arlene Foster and Ms O’Neill at Stormont on Thursday afternoon to discuss the battle with Covid-19 was cancelled with Mrs Foster having called on Ms O’Neill to stand down as deputy first minister until the outcome of a police investigation is known.

However, Ms O’Neill has the backing of her own party, with president Mary Lou McDonald, who also attended the funeral, insisting that she has the full backing of her own party.

Meanwhile, the wearing of masks on public transport in Northern Ireland is soon to become mandatory. Infrastructure minister Nichola Mallon confirmed on Thursday that the Executive has approved the mandatory wearing of face coverings in the Province from July 10.

Stay safe,

Alistair Bushe, Editor

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