Michelle O'Neill sorry for hurt caused to grieving families but says she will "never apologise" for attending Storey funeral
Michelle O'Neill has acknowledged the hurt caused to some families over her attendance at IRA veteran Bobby Storey's funeral.
But the Deputy First Minister said she would "never apologise for attending the funeral of my friend."
And she said she would continue to jointly lead the Government - despite mounting calls for her to step aside..
Michelle O'Neill has been facing a barrage of criticism over her attendance at Bobby Storey's funeral.
In a statement this morning (Friday) she said no coronavirus regulations were broken.
However, Ms O'Neill did apologise to any grieving families who experienced more hurt over the past few days and she said she did not mean to cause any hurt to anyone.
Party leaders met today to discuss the issue - and she said good progress was made.
But at a press conference later at Stormont, Ms O'Neill said she would never apologise for going to the funeral of Bobby Storey.
"I will never apologise for attending the funeral of my friend,'' she said.
But she acknowledged some families had been left upset.
"I would never set out to hurt any family or compound their grief at such a sad time,'' she said.
"In terms of my attendance at the funeral I am confident I can stand over the fact I worked within the guidelines and I worked within the regulations in terms of attending a requiem mass, which was allowed, and also to walk in a funeral cortege of up to 30 people.''
"In terms of my attendance at the funeral I am confident I can stand over the fact I worked within the guidelines and I worked within the regulations in terms of attending a requiem mass, which was allowed, and also to walk in a funeral cortege of up to 30 people.''
"In terms of my attendance at the funeral I am confident I can stand over the fact I worked within the guidelines and I worked within the regulations in terms of attending a requiem mass, which was allowed, and also to walk in a funeral cortege of up to 30 people.'' Asked if the meeting of the five party leaders had resolved the row, Ms O'Neill said she would not break the confidence of the discussions but said the positions articulated were "predictable''.
"I believe the everybody wants to make the Assembly and Executive work,'' she added.
Asked if she believed her statement would resolve the political row over the funeral, Michelle O'Neill said: "I hope that families get some succour from what I've had to say today.
"I hope the Storey family gets space now to be able to grieve for the loss of Bobby," she said.
".It's for others to say where they want to go next, but I'm determined, I'm here to make it work.''
And she added: "I am determined to work with all the political parties. That's my resolve, that's why I came back into these institutions, that's why I fought for three years to get it back up and running again.''
Earlier, the Deputy First Minister said she had listened very carefully to the voices of those who had lost loved ones.
"No family's grief is more important than another's,'' she said.
"I am particularly concerned that grieving families who have lost a loved one during the pandemic had their heartache compounded by the necessary restrictions which were in place at that time.
"Not being able to have their family and friends' support to help them through was hugely difficult.
"I am also concerned that those grieving families are experiencing more hurt over recent days. I am sorry for that.''
Ulster Unionist leader Steve Aiken said the apology was not enough.
"I'm glad at long last Michelle O'Neill has realised that the hurt she's caused and the fact she addressed many of the families across Northern Ireland who have been in this situation and haven't had the ability to flout the law as she has, I think that was a start,'' he said.
"But I also note the fact that she didn't recognise the main problem.
"And the main problem is this - she is a member of the Northern Ireland Executive, the Northern Ireland Executive set rules, guidelines and regulations that she as the deputy first minister of this country flouted.
"That is not acceptable, and that is why we're still calling for her to resign or to step aside.''
And SDLP leader Colum Eastwood MP described Ms O'Neill's statement as a half apology''.
He said if she was "incapable of showing contrition for her actions or accepting wrongdoing then she should stand aside''.
"The statement from Michelle following the meeting falls far short of what is required,'' he said.
"A half apology if people were hurt is not an acceptance that attendance at the funeral, in the middle of a pandemic, when others were being asked to stay at home was wrong.
"To then go on to speak about the need to prevent a second wave or clusters of infection this afternoon demonstrates how detached from the seriousness of this that she has become.
"Those who lost loved ones and who made immense sacrifices to protect friends, family and their neighbours will have to come to their own judgment about the words they've heard today. I do not believe that the joint First Minister has addressed the critical issues that have undermined her authority and if she will not take further action, she should stand aside to restore confidence in the Executive's public health advice.''