"I'm truly sorry"- Michelle O'Neill apologises for attendance at Bobby Storey funeral during Covid-19 pandemic

First Minister Michelle O'Neill has told the Covid-19 inquiry that she is 'truly sorry' for having attended the funeral of veteran republican Bobby Storey in West Belfast in June 2020.

The Sinn Féin Vice president appeared at the Northern Ireland leg of the UK wide Covid inquiry into the response to the pandemic in the Clayton Hotel on Tuesday.

Controversy surrounded the attendance of a number of leading Sinn Féin figures at the Storey funeral, including three Stormont ministers, at a time when there were limits on public gatherings imposed by the Executive for which O'Neill was Deputy First Minister.

READ MORE: Michelle O'Neill: 'I will never apologise for attending the funeral of my friend'

READ MORE: Live stream and updates as Michelle O'Neill faces questions at Covid-19 inquiry

In July 2020 O'Neill said she would 'never apologise' for attending the funeral of her friend.

When asked by counsel for the inquiry Clair Dobbin KC about her attendance at the funeral, O'Neill said she was 'truly sorry' for attending the funeral and for the hurt caused to families who lost loved ones during the pandemic.

"I have to say up front and I do want to be direct, I'm glad that we're actually able to speak about this so early on in the evidence," O'Neill said.

"There is no doubt that the families themselves have been through an experience there is no coming back from, it's been absolutely horrendous and to lose loved ones in a way in which they have.

"I have met some of the families individually, I have equally listened to some of the testimony that was offered at the start of the inquiry, and no family should have to go through what these families have went through.

"I also know equally that my actions compounded the hurt and the horrible experience that those families have went through.

"I also know that my actions also angered the families, and for that, I am truly sorry, I am sorry for going and I'm sorry for the hurt that was caused after that."

The inquiry was shown minutes of an Executive meeting which took place after the Storey funeral in which then Deputy First Minister O'Neill said that her attendance 'did not dilute the public message' around Coronavirus restrictions.

Addressing the notes, O'Neill said she was 'wrong' to say that.

In a response that almost brought the First Minister to tears, O'Neill says she 'never set out to hurt people' by her attendance at the funeral.

"I think what I've said there in terms of not diluting the public message, that was wrong, because I clearly did, and I have acknowledged that," she said.

"And equally I have worked every day ever since to regain public confidence and trust.

"I think I took every opportunity I had in terms of the aftermath in both the Assembly chamber, in front of the scrutiny committee. I've spoken publicly on a number of occasions about how sorry I am.

"I am absolutely from the bottom of my heart sorry, because I would never set out to hurt you.

"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.

"I also accept wholeheartedly that I damaged the public health messaging, and I had work to do to regain that."

The inquiry will hear more evidence from the First Minister on Tuesday, while then First Minister Arlene Foster is set to give evidence on Wednesday.

You can watch the live stream from the inquiry and follow all the latest updates HERE.

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.