THE PSNI was secretly watching the funeral of IRA man EamonN ‘Peggy’ McCourt in Derry this week over potential Coronavirus breaches, it has been reported.
The Belfast Telegraph reports that a security source told the newspaper that plain clothes officers were at the funeral on Monday.
The paper says it has been told by the source that the covert officers were wearing discreet body cameras to record footage.
Evidence gathered from the body worn cameras will now be reviewed by officers experienced in dealing with public order matters.
The source also told the newspaper that there were initial plans to use a helicopter, drones or static cameras on Land Rovers to monitor the cortege.
However, these were ruled out for operational reasons.
At the time of the funeral, police said a “significant number of people” had gathered, in a manner “likely to be in breach” of the coronavirus regulations.
Derry PSNI commander Chief Supt Darrin Jones said anyone found in breach of public health regulations will be reported to the Public Prosecution Service.
He said police had “engaged with representatives of the family of the deceased, the local church and local political representatives”, prior to the funeral.
“As a result, police were given a number of assurances as to the conduct of the funeral, and that people would seek to pay their respects to the deceased from outside their homes rather than gather at the funeral.”
Pictures of the leading republican’s funeral show men in white shirts and black ties flanking the cortege and dozens of others behind them.
Ch Supt Jones added: “Regrettably at the funeral on Monday morning, a significant number of people gathered as part of the cortège, in a manner likely to be in breach of the health protection regulations.”
On Thursday, DUP leader Arlene Foster led a party delegation to raise the issue with PSNI Chief Constable Simon Byrne.
She said there was “anger” in the unionist community about the large crowd at the Derry funeral.
“You cannot have a select group of people who are above the law or not being treated the same as everybody else,” she told a Stormont press briefing.
“It’s not helpful at all in terms of messaging if you have some people who appear to be able to have these funerals without fear or favour.
“I have missed a large number of funerals that I should have been at which I couldn’t go to because of the restrictions, the last one being on Sunday past.”
Sinn Fein vice president Michelle O’Neill told the press conference that her party was not involved in organising the funeral.
“We had our own online celebration of his life,” says the deputy first minister.
In relation to the police investigation into potential breaches of Covid-19 regulations at the funeral, she says: “The PSNI have a job to do and they should be left to get on with their job.
“There is a family who have lost a loved one here and a family who are grieving and you have to always be mindful of them.”
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