Tensions smoulder over two controversial loyalist bonfires
On Wednesday night, the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said it had received a formal request for assistance from the council to support contractors to remove the bonfire on Meridi Street off the Donegall Road.
A bonfire on Broadway Industrial Estate off Donegal Road in south Belfast (Liam McBurney/PA)
A PSNI spokesperson said they had declared it as a major incident, and a Tactical Coordination Group had been established with multi-agency partners to ensure joint understanding and to comprehensively assess all of the risks associated with this request.
'No decision has been taken at this stage and we continue to work with our partner agencies and community representatives on this matter,' they added.
Crowds took to the street on the Donegall Road in south Belfast late on Wednesday night vowing to remain on site all night to defend the bonfire.
Some fireworks were set off and a smaller bonfire set alight, while a car was placed to block the entrance to the site on Meridi Street.
A car blocks the entrance to a site off the Donegall Road in south Belfast where a controversial loyalist bonfire has been sited close to an electricity substation (Rebecca Black/PA)
Meanwhile, there are calls to remove effigies of migrants in a boat that have been placed on a loyalist bonfire in Moygashel on the outskirts of Dungannon in Co Tyrone.
The boat containing more than a dozen life-sized mannequins wearing life jackets was unveiled on top of the bonfire. Below the boat are several placards, one stating 'stop the boats' and another 'veterans before refugees'.
Patrick Corrigan, Amnesty International's Northern Ireland director, described the bonfire as a 'vile, dehumanising act that fuels hatred and racism'.
'Amnesty International urges the authorities to ensure its immediate removal and calls on the PSNI to investigate and hold those responsible to account,' he said.
'A clear and unequivocal message must be sent that xenophobia and incitement to hatred have no place in our society.'
A display on a bonfire in Moygashel, Co Tyrone (Jonathan McCambridge/PA)
They are among around 300 set to be lit across Thursday and Friday night ahead of the Orange Order's July 12 parades on Saturday.
The traditional fires are lit ahead of the main date in the parading calendar of Protestant loyal orders, the Twelfth Of July.
While most of the bonfires pass off without incident, several have become the focus of contention due to the placing of flags, effigies and election posters on the structures before they are ignited.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Belfast Telegraph
16 minutes ago
- Belfast Telegraph
Controversial Belfast bonfire ‘will in all likelihood go ahead' amid fears of disorder
The controversial Village bonfire in south Belfast will 'in all likelihood go ahead' on the Eleventh Night, sources have told the Belfast Telegraph. It is understood that plans were afoot for contractors to move in overnight to remove the pyre following a majority vote at Belfast City Council (BCC), however this was deemed 'unviable' due to tensions on the ground. Sinn Féin, Alliance, SDLP and Green Party representatives backed the plan, while the DUP did not. City Hall sources told this newspaper on Thursday that the current assessment is that bonfire will go ahead on Friday night. . Bonfire built beside south Belfast substation 'The plan was for contractors to move overnight, but the situation that developed on the ground just made that unviable for several reasons,' one said. 'Obviously the access to the site was blocked and there was the real possibility of disorder. The risk was just too great. 'As things stand it's been privately conceded the council had its shot and missed, and the bonfire will in all likelihood go ahead. Another source said: 'The whole thing has been a bit of a shambles, to be honest." The towering structure sparked concerns that it could put the power supply to the City Hospital and the Royal Victoria Hospital at risk due to its proximity to an electricity substation. In addition, there is hazardous asbestos material on the site near the Westlink, which is a potential risk to human health. On Wednesday afternoon, members of Belfast City Council's Strategic Policy and Resources Committee voted in favour of requesting the PSNI accompany contractors to move in and dismantle the bonfire. The committee also agreed to write to the environment minister to act immediately to have it removed. Within hours, police declared a major incident over the bonfire and crowds gathered at the site, with entrances to the site being blocked. A joint statement issued on behalf of paramilitaries in south Belfast warned of the possibility of 'serious and sustained disorder'. "PSNI have been advised of the risk of widespread disorder, with loyalists in other areas across NI staging interface riots to stretch the PSNI,' they said. "The police have been told there is a very real prospect of serious and sustained disorder should there be any effort to remove the bonfire.' Meanwhile, loyalist activist Jamie Bryson has launched a legal challenge in a bid to stop the bonfire being dismantled. The argument centres on a claim that BCC's Chief Executive disregarded a call-in mechanism during a committee vote on Wednesday. The procedure allows a minority of 15% of councillors to challenge any decision if they feel it will have a disproportionate community impact. 'The council has received correspondence in relation to yesterday's decision by the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee,' a spokesperson confirmed. 'Elected members were advised at the start of yesterday's meeting that any decision in relation to the bonfire at Broadway Industrial Estate would not be subject to call-in. 'This is in accordance with Standing Order 48 (a) of the council – those cases in which an ability to immediately implement a decision would result in a breach of statutory or contractual duty or would otherwise prevent the council from responding to a situation of emergency, as defined in the Civil Contingencies Act 2004.' Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan has demanded leadership from unionists to ensure 'the hazardous bonfire' does not go ahead and also warned that the PSNI must take action. 'The silence from political unionism is deafening,' the west Belfast representative said. "They must step up and make it clear they do not support the burning of materials that threaten hospital power supplies and risk releasing asbestos into the air. 'The PSNI must act now to prevent this from escalating. Waiting until it's too late is not an option. We need firm, immediate action. 'This bonfire poses a serious threat to the local community. 'Two nearby hospitals risk losing electricity, putting patients' lives in danger. 'It is unthinkable that this bonfire could go ahead, endangering lives, damaging property and putting critical infrastructure at risk.' It's understood that bonfire builders have voluntarily removed tiers of pallets from the top of the pyre as an "olive branch" to critics. The PSNI says no decision has been taken on assisting the removal of the bonfire as they continue to work with agencies and community representatives.
The Guardian
39 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Failure to tear down Belfast bonfire will be victory for mob rule, warns Sinn Féin
Police in Northern Ireland will be giving into 'mob rule' if they fail to assist with the dismantling of a loyalist bonfire that is believed to pose risks to public health and to energy supplies, Sinn Féin has said. Loyalist paramilitaries warned of disorder if authorities took down the towering pyre on Meridi Street off Donegall Road in Belfast, which is to be lit on Friday night as part of wider loyalist commemorations. On Wednesday a Belfast city council committee voted to send contractors to dismantle the bonfire, which is on a site that contains asbestos and is close to an electricity substation that powers two hospitals. The Police Service of Northern Ireland declared a 'major incident' over the bonfire site and is considering the council's request. A joint statement from south Belfast paramilitary groups warned of a backlash if the pyre was removed. 'PSNI have been advised of the risk of widespread disorder, with loyalists in other areas across NI staging interface riots to stretch the PSNI,' it said. The Sinn Féin assembly member Pat Sheehan urged the police on Thursday to take 'firm, immediate action' to protect public health and critical infrastructure. 'We can't allow mob rule to decide what happens to this bonfire,' he told BBC Radio Ulster. Sign up to First Edition Our morning email breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion Sheehan also urged unionist representatives to 'step up' and condemn the bonfire, which is one of about 300 that will be lit on Thursday and Friday as part of the annual celebration of the victory of King William III's Protestant forces over Catholics at the battle of the Boyne in 1690. Meanwhile, a senior cleric added his voice to condemnation of a separate bonfire, in the County Tyrone village of Moygashel, that features an effigy of a migrant vessel with a dozen mannequins in lifejackets and placards that say 'stop the boats' and 'veterans before refugees'. John McDowell, the Church of Ireland archbishop of Armagh and primate of all Ireland, called the effigy racist and threatening. 'It certainly has nothing whatsoever to do with Christianity or with Protestant culture and is in fact inhuman and deeply sub-Christian. I hope that the many people from other countries, who live in that area … can be reassured that it does not in any way represent the feeling of the vast majority of their neighbours.' An Irish national flag is also on the Moygashel pyre, which is to be lit on Thursday night.
Glasgow Times
an hour ago
- Glasgow Times
Macron says UK and France ‘share same will' amid crunch talks over migrant deal
The French president said the UK and France 'share the same will' to address the issue at the start of a Franco-British summit at Downing Street. It came after the pair said a 'new deterrent' was needed to stop small boats crossing the English Channel. The Prime Minister hopes the French president will sign up to a 'one in, one out' deal on Thursday, the last day of Mr Macron's state visit to the UK. (PA Graphics) Under the terms of the deal, Britain would accept migrants with links to the country in exchange for sending others back across the Channel. Sir Keir said the meeting was about working together on shared priorities. He said: 'For us, it's about delivering the changes that the British people want to see, and we will agree the situation in the Channel cannot go on as it is. 'So we're bringing new tactics into play and a new level of intent to tackle illegal migration and break the business model of the criminal gangs.' Sir Keir Starmer (left) welcomed Emannuel Macron to Downing Street Speaking in French, Mr Macron said: 'We share the same will to tackle networks of illegal immigration through great co-ordination with other European countries. 'We have often mentioned France is the last destination before Great Britain for these men and women who often journey through paths of misery and are exploited by traffickers. 'We will work with countries of first entry in Europe (as) our intention is also to engage all countries who share a responsibility alongside us.' Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Energy Secretary Ed Miliband were also at the summit. Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Home Secretary Yvette Cooper attended the summit (Yui Mok/PA) Defence Secretary John Healey, who was also at the summit, told ITV's Good Morning Britain that footage of French authorities puncturing a migrant dinghy to stop it from setting off last week was a 'recognition' that France has agreed to change its rules to intervene in shallow waters. To reduce small boat crossings, he said those changes need to be 'fully implemented' alongside new legislation, building up the new border security command, and any steps to be announced by Sir Keir and Mr Macron after the summit. French newspaper Le Monde has reported that some 50 migrants a week would initially be returned to France under the terms of the proposed deal, which it described as largely symbolic. If such a deal were struck, it would only result in the return of a fraction of the 21,000 people who have made the Channel crossing so far in 2025, a record for this point in a year. But it would also represent a concession by the French that such returns are possible, after years of MPs on the right of British politics insisting France is a 'safe' country where migrants can be sent back to. The Times reported the scheme would be scaled up after an initial pilot had shown 'proof of concept', citing Government sources. In return, Mr Macron is said to be pushing for the UK to do more to address 'pull factors' which are attracting people to make the dangerous crossing to the English coast. When Mr Macron and Sir Keir met in Downing Street on Wednesday, the small boats crisis appeared to be the mainstay of their conversations. The pair agreed the crossings are a 'shared priority that requires shared solutions', a Downing Street spokesperson said. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer (right) with Emmanuel Macron at 10 Downing Street (Alberto Pezzali/PA) They also agreed on the need for a 'new deterrent to break the business model of these gangs' and are aiming for 'concrete progress' on the matter. Following the French-UK summit, the two leaders will host a call with coalition of the willing partners, the proposed peacekeeping mission to deter Russia from attacking Ukraine in future. In a sign of close alignment on defence, Britain and France have announced they will buy new supplies of Storm Shadow missiles, which both have loaned to Ukraine to strike targets deep inside Russia. The two nations will also work closely to develop a successor to the long-range missile, the Ministry of Defence said.
