Covid Inquiry: Michelle O'Neill apologises for going to Bobby Storey funeral during pandemic

First Minister Michelle O'Neill said sorry today (Tuesday) for the hurt that was caused by her attendance at the funeral of republican Bobby Storey during the Covid-19 pandemic.

"I know that my actions also angered the families and for that I'm truly sorry. I am sorry for going and I'm sorry for the harm that's been caused after it," she told the Covid-19 Inquiry.

Asked if she realised the anger that going to the funeral would cause, she said: "I didn't but I ought to have.

"I've said it publicly on a number of occasions about how sorry I am and I am absolutely, from the bottom of my heart, sorry.

"I do accept wholeheartedly that I in some way damaged our Executive relations with colleagues who had been working very hard with me the whole way through, and I also accept wholeheartedly that I damaged the public health messaging and I had work to do to regain that."

Ms O'Neill has "absolutely" rejected that she played politics over Covid-19 measures at the inquiry into the handling of the coronavirus pandemic.

"I absolutely refute that, I don't accept that I played politics," she said on Tuesday.

She said that she was "trying to find consensus around the Executive table" around issues such as school closures.

Responding to exchanges between her and former first minister Arlene Foster, Ms O'Neill said: "We had a difference of approach, that's not politicking, it's about what's the right way and what's the wrong way.

"As I said, I refute the allegation of playing politics, this was about what I thought was the right thing to do."