Bobby Storey funeral: Watchdog says ‘PSNI showed no bias in handling of funeral

One person dies with Covid-19 and another 82 people test positive

View email online

Subscribe              May 17, 2021           Dear reader I don't think anyone is surprised that Doug Beattie is the new leader of the Ulster Unionist Party.  Today's deadline for potential candidates to declare their interest in succeeding Steven Aiken came and went, with Upper Bann MLA Mr Beattie the only person to declare.  The party's most capable media performer, the Military Cross holder has admitted that his liberal views deter existing members of the party who may even decide to leave the party. He said, very frankly, that the UUP may even have to shrink in order to grow.  The long-awaited report into the PSNI's handling of the Bobby Storey funeral has found that police prioritised public security over enforcement of Covid-19 regulations without showing bias. Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) said it understood why the PSNI took this approach, given the likelihood of tensions, and because regulations were confusing. The report has been criticised by unionists, with the TUV's Jim Allister saying it "amounts to yet another attempt to tell the people of Northern Ireland to move on, nothing to see here, when we all know what the truth of the matter was". Follow our Coronavirus Live Blog here Alistair Bushe Editor Want total access to all of our online content? You can subscribe to our website, newsletter.co.uk for just £1 a month for 3 months - and it couldn't be easier.   Signing up will get you faster-loading articles, fewer adverts and access to exclusive content and events when we run them. To learn more, visit our Subscriptions page here.               One person dies with Covid-19 and another 82 people test positive           Another 82 people have tested positive for Covid-19 in NI, the latest dashboard from the Department of Health has revealed.                   Over the next month many of the Coronavirus restrictions that we have become used to in Northern Ireland will, hopefully, start to ease. So let's all get outside and celebrate Northern Ireland. In fact, as part of our ongoing celebration of the approaching end of lockdown and 284 years of telling Northern Ireland's stories, we want to bring you into the picture… literally. We are running an exciting 'My Local Landmark' competition, and we want you to get involved. Check out the full details here           Bobby Storey funeral: Watchdog says 'PSNI showed no bias in handling of funeral   A watchdog report into whether there were failings in how the police handled the funeral of senior republican Bobby Storey has found that confusing COVID-19 regulations caused problems for the PSNI's handling of the funeral.           Indian Covid variant can 'spread like wildfire' among those who haven't had jab   Health Secretary Matt Hancock has warned that the Indian Covid variant can "spread like wildfire" among those who have not been vaccinated against the virus.           Boris Johnson urges 'heavy dose of caution' as England lockdown rules ease amid concerns over Indian variant   Prime Minister Boris Johnson has called for a "heavy dose of caution" as lockdown restrictions continue to ease in England.           Doug Beattie : Some UUP members may not like my liberal credentials and may decide to leave the party   Ulster Unionist chairman Danny Kennedy has confirmed that Upper Bann MLA Doug Beattie is the only candidate to have put his name forward for the leadership of the party.           DUP MLA challenges PSNI over moves to prosecute NI Protocol protestors   Newry & Armagh DUP MLA William Irwin MLA says the PSNI has "questions to answer" after officers delivered letters to a number of Markethill residents threatening possible prosecution over illegal parades.           Michael D Higgins challenged over 'xenophobic' Britain comment regarding Irish famine   A Northern Ireland historian has challenged claims from Republic of Ireland President Michael D Higgins that Britiain's conduct during the Irish famine of the 1840s was "xenophobic".                 View more news

Please note Due to the unprecedented nature of the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic we have launched this new daily newsletter to keep you up to date with the latest official information and advice. How to opt out of these emails We are sending these daily Coronavirus email bulletins in addition to our daily newsletter emails. If you would like to opt out of only these additional Public Interest emails, and continue to receive your regular daily newsletters, please click here.         You have received this email as you have an account on the News Letter, published by JPIMedia Publishing Ltd.     Alternatively you can update your email preferences to choose the types of emails you receive from JPIMedia Publishing Ltd, or unsubscribe from all future emails.     JPIMedia Publishing Ltd, a company registered in England and Wales with registered number 11499982, having its registered address at 9th Floor, 107 Cheapside, London, England, EC2V 6DN, United Kingdom. We will process your personal data in accordance with our privacy policy.