DUP MLA says he was ‘mistaken’ over Beragh funeral

THE DUP MLA, Christopher Salford, has said his comments referring to a ‘major republican funeral’ in Beragh last weekend were inaccurate.

In the Assembly on Wednesday, he had questioned the Deputy First Minister, Michelle O’Neill, on the funeral and the attendance of a number of Sinn Fein representatives.

The funeral being referred to was that of local man, Anto Duffy, who had been a member of the Beragh Red Knights GAA club, a former soldier in the Irish defence forces and a native of Dublin.

However, in a statement issued this afternoon, Mr Salford, said he was ‘mistaken’ to say that a ‘major republican funeral’ had taken place.

“My comments were focused on suggestions that numbers gathered for the funeral may have been in breach of current Covid regulations and amongst those in attendance were at least one Sinn Fein elected representative,” he said.

“However, reference to a ‘major republican funeral’ was inaccurate and I accept that I was mistaken in that regard.”