Belfast City Council's £100,000 Bill: A Funnel of Controversy and Critics

Strategic Insights -

As the residents of Belfast continue to grapple with the aftermath of a tumultuous funeral procession in 2020, Northern Ireland's Belfast City Council is facing intense scrutiny for its handling of the event. The funeral, held for senior republican Bobby Storey, sparked controversy when it drew thousands of people onto the streets despite strict Covid-19 regulations. The council's decision to ignore public health guidelines has now resulted in a whopping £94,171.99 being spent on legal fees to defend its actions.

Key Takeaways:

  • The funeral of Bobby Storey, a former northern chairman of Sinn Fein and reported former IRA director of intelligence, drew approximately 2,000 people onto the streets in June 2020, defying strict Covid-19 rules.
  • Belfast City Council's handling of the event was criticized for favoring Mr. Storey's family while denying similar access to Roselawn Cemetery for the cremations of eight other bereaved families.
  • The council apologized to the families and offered compensation, but refused to disclose the exact amount.
  • DUP Group Leader Sarah Bunting accused Sinn Fein of arrogance in handling the funeral, stating that the party showed no regard for public health and its actions cost ratepayers nearly £100,000.
  • A credible source revealed that six families whose funerals were disrupted were offered around £5,000 each as compensation, with all but one accepting it.
  • Alderman Jim Rodgers expressed his concerns over the council's handling of the funeral, stating that it was "exceptionally, very badly handled" and caused "terrible heartache to many families."
  • The PSNI invited two senior police officers from England to investigate the council's handling of the funeral, but no findings were ever made public.

Statistics:

  • The final legal bill for Belfast City Council's handling of Bobby Storey's funeral was approximately £94,171.99.
  • Around 2,000 people attended the funeral procession.
  • The council spent nearly £100,000 on legal services defending its handling of the event.
  • Six families whose funerals were disrupted received around £5,000 each as compensation (with one family declining the offer).

Sources:

  • "Belfast City Council hit with £94,171.99 bill for Bobby Storey funeral controversy". News Letter.
  • "Ratepayers to foot £100,000 cost of Bobby Storey funeral controversy". DUP News.
  • "Funeral for senior republican Bobby Storey sparks controversy in Belfast". BBC News.