Michelle O'Neill: Sinn Fein deputy leader called on to step down by DUP after breaking social distancing at IRA funeral
The DUP has called on the vice president of Sinn Fein to stand down from her role as deputy first minister of Northern Ireland, as police investigate allegations that she and other politicians broke social distancing guidance during the funeral of an IRA veteran earlier this week.
Michelle O'Neill and other senior Sinn Fein politicians attended the funeral of Bobby Storey in west Belfast on Tuesday, which appeared to breach a lockdown rule limiting outdoor public gatherings to a maximum of 30 people.
Jeffrey Donaldson, a DUP MP, said on Thursday that Ms O'Neill should step aside pending an investigation by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) into her actions.
Mr Donaldson added that Arlene Foster, the DUP leader who is first minister of Northern Ireland, had written a letter to Ms O'Neill laying out the party's position.
He said: "The law on these matters is clear and what happened at that funeral has sent out a very, very bad message to people in Northern Ireland."
However, Ms O'Neill did admit that a photo of her posing near two men, one with his arm on her shoulder, happened in a "blink of an eye" and "should not have happened".
Making it clear she would not be quitting her role because of the controversy, she added that the funeral's cortege was limited to 30 people and that social distancing was "exemplary" inside the church.
Other prominent Sinn Fein members who were at the funeral include its president Mary Lou McDonald and former leader Gerry Adams.
Speaking about the mass gathering, Brandon Lewis, the Northern Ireland secretary, told BBC Radio Ulster: "I can understand people's frustrations. It's not something I would have done."
Northern Ireland has so far recorded 5,761 infections and 551 deaths caused by the virus.
Additional reporting from PA
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