Gerry Moriarty,
Northern Editor
Sinn Féin has rejected criticism of the organisation over Joe Cahill's funeral in west Belfast on Monday after DUP Assembly member, Mr Sammy Wilson, stated it proved Sinn Féin and the IRA were one and the same.
Mr Wilson also complained that "the way in which Sinn Féin took over the running of west Belfast" during the funeral of the former IRA chief of staff indicated that the PSNI, the roads service and other statutory bodies "stepped aside to allow the funeral of a killer to be facilitated".
Mr Wilson also focused on how Sinn Féin TD Mr Martin Ferris, MEP Ms Bairbre de Brún and Dublin councillor Mr Christy Burke marched in time to the pace of the republican guard of honour in black berets that flanked Mr Cahill's coffin.
He said "one of the most sickening images of the day" was the "pathetic mimicking" of the marching style by Ms de Brún and the two other Sinn Féin representatives.
Sinn Féin described Mr Wilson's comments as pathetic.
