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I did not play politics during pandemic: O’Neill

Pa
Wednesday, May 15, 2024

BELFAST: Northern Ireland’s First Minister Michelle O’Neill has denied “playing politics” during the coronavirus pandemic.

Ms O’Neill, who served as deputy first minister during the pandemic, gave evidence to the UK Covid-19 Inquiry sitting in Belfast on Tuesday.She became First Minister in February 2024.During her evidence on Tuesday, Ms O’Neill also apologised for having attended the funeral of veteran republican Bobby Storey in June 2020 despite lockdown restrictions limiting social gatherings.

Asked by lead counsel to the inquiry Clair Dobbin KC if she felt she gave good leadership to Northern Ireland with then-first minister Arlene Foster during the pandemic, Ms O’Neill said she did.

Ms Dobbin showed Ms O’Neill a tense WhatsApp message exchange between her and Baroness Foster dated March 21 2020.Baroness Foster tells Ms O’Neill in the exchange that she felt her “public undermining of Robin (Swann) was totally uncalled for”.

“If you want to effect change in a policy you are going completely the wrong way about it. You are playing politics when things are much too serious.“It is hugely disappointing but unfortunately I’m not surprised.”Ms O’Neill responded in the exchange: “It’s too serious to tolerate. Lives will be lost. Start listening.”

Baroness Foster went on to query whether Ms O’Neill was “calling two of your ministerial colleagues incompetent”, adding “Naomi (Long) and Robin (Swann) have both raised concerns about your behaviour”, and urged her to be “more collegiate”.

Ms O’Neill responded: “The department is not serving Robin. We are not being served well by the Civil Service. This is a time to knock heads and to get them to act with haste.“Our nurses are crying out for help to do their jobs. I spoke to many from the Western Trust area over this week and they need us to fight for them.”

Ms Dobbin put to Ms O’Neill the accusation of playing politics.Ms O’Neill said she “absolutely” rejects that she played politics over Covid-19 measures.She also pointed out the exchange came in the context of disagreement within the Executive around the closure of schools.“As I said, I refute the allegation of playing politics, this was about what I thought was the right thing to do,” she told the inquiry.