The TUV leader Jim Allister has today written to the PSNI Chief Constable to raise concerns of images which have surfaced on social media of what appears to be a mass gathering at a recent funeral, despite government guidelines.
The reported funeral had taken place in Ballindeeey.
Wringing to the Police Constable, Mr Allister said:
‘Dear Chief Constable,
My attention has been drawn to photographs on social media of what is reported to be the funeral of former Sinn Fein councillor Francie McNally in Ballinderry on Wednesday 8th April. It would appear that, in defiance of the current law banning gathering of people even for the purposes of funerals, quite a number or men attended this funeral dressed in a fashion which appears to have followed the pattern of recent PIRA funerals.
Assuming the reports on social media are accurate I write to ask how many officers were on the ground at the funeral, what action was taken to prevent the breaking of the law including details of how many fines were issued and finally if no action was taken at the time how police are currently planning to trace those who broke the law by attending the funeral given that at least some of them are clearly identifiable by the posts on social media.
I note that the fact that the law appears to have been defied in this instance has understandably caused considerable hurt to those who have complied with the law while burying their loved ones. For that reason alone I believe it is of the utmost importance that the PSNI act swiftly to clear this matter up and, if the reports are accurate, bring to justice those who have flouted the law at a time of national and international emergency.’
