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Arlene Foster and Michelle O’Neill, respectively the former and current First Ministers of Northern Ireland, are scheduled to testify before the Covid Inquiry happening on Wednesday. The inquiry, held in London, will center on the testing, tracing, and isolation strategies implemented by Stormont during the pandemic. Other individuals set to give evidence include former Ulster Unionist health minister, Robin Swann, and Chief Medical Officer Michael McBride. This inquiry was initiated by former Prime Minister Boris Johnson in May 2021, and its public hearings commenced nearly two years ago. The hearings are anticipated to conclude by February of next year.
During her testimony at the Covid Inquiry, Michelle O’Neill faced scrutiny for allegedly violating coronavirus regulations by attending the funeral of Irish Republican Bobby Storey in June 2020. Despite having expressed regret for any distress caused by her actions and the undermining of public health messaging, O’Neill refused to apologize for attending the funeral. However, during her appearance at the inquiry in May 2024, she acknowledged the pain and upset her actions had caused, admitting, “I am sorry for going and I am sorry for the hurt that’s been caused.” In a text message unveiled during the Belfast hearings, former chief medical officer Michael McBride criticized the executive’s conduct during the pandemic as “politics at its worst,” although no specific individuals were named in the message.
On the other hand, Arlene Foster, who served as First Minister throughout the pandemic, emphasized during her own testimony at the inquiry that the executive had not been neglectful in its response to the crisis, countering claims that it had been inactive. Foster defended the executive’s actions, stating they were guided by advice from health officials and the Department of Health. She disclosed that she assumed responsibility for the executive’s management of the pandemic, admitting that Northern Ireland should have imposed lockdown measures sooner to avert further deaths. Reflecting on her tenure during the pandemic, Foster expressed her deep remorse for the decisions made, characterizing it as the most challenging period of her political career. Furthermore, she was pressed during the inquiry about her party’s utilization of a cross-community vote mechanism in 2020 to block the extension of certain Covid restrictions
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