Two Derry IRA men killed in controversial circumstances in the city will be remembered this weekend on the 41st anniversaries of their deaths. George McBrearty .
Footage from the funeral is being reviewed by police for potential breaches of the Covid regulations, which currently state that in Northern Ireland funerals are limited to 25 people.
Speaking this morning, Mr Stanley said that people cannot be stopped from coming to the footpath to pay their respects.
“We can’t stop people from turning out on to the sidewalk to pay their respects when a funeral cortege is passing by. But the rules are the rules and, you know, we’re striving to implement them.
“There have been a lot of large funerals on this island, we had an unfortunate situation last year of the detective garda losing his life.”
In October, Sinn Féin confirmed that she was self-isolating due to her relative testing positive.
It was the second time in 10 days the deputy first minister underwent a test for the virus, having been tested the week prior after developing symptoms.
However, she tested negative and it was understood that she developed a head cold.
Separately, the party has come under fire for its members attending funerals in breach of Covid-19 restrictions.
Last Monday, three councillors attended the large funeral of a Provisional IRA man and party activist Eamonn ‘Peggy’ McCourt.
The party said that they paid their respects from the roadside of the republican funeral in Derry and they observed social distancing.
Eamonn Peggy McCourt, a 62-year-old former IRA member from Creggan in the city, died in hospital at the weekend having reportedly contracted Covid-19.
Images that emerged online following his funeral on Monday showed a large crowd behind a hearse, which was flanked by two lines of mourners in white shirts and black ties.
The footage is being reviewed by police to identify any potential breaches of the regulations.
Police said the scenes were likely to be in breach of Covid regulations.
Police have confirmed that officers used body-worn cameras to record video at the funeral of the former IRA man in the city earlier this week.