Doherty defends attendance at ‘Bik’ McFarlane funeral

Sinn Féin deputy leader Pearse Doherty has defended his decision to attend the funeral of former IRA man Brendan ‘Bik’ McFarlane (Niall Carson/PA)

It is important for people to have a “right to remember their dead”, senior Sinn Féin politician Pearse Doherty said as he defended his decision to attend the funeral of a former IRA man.

Several senior Sinn Féin figures paid tributes to Brendan “Bik” McFarlane following his death last month at the age of 74.