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Metro
11-07-2025
- Politics
- Metro
'Racist' bonfire with migrant dummies on a boat set on fire
A bonfire with a display of refugees in a boat was lit and is being treated as a hate incident. The model which shows a small boat with several figures inside has received widespread condemnation after it was set alight in Moygashel, Northern Ireland, last night. Under the boat, a sign said 'stop the boats', while another placard said: 'veterans before refugees'. Among those to hit out at it was Church of Ireland Archbishop John McDowell who said it was 'racist, threatening and offensive.' He added: '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, and who contribute so much to the economy and to the diversity of Dungannon, can be reassured that it does not in any way represent the feeling of the vast majority of their neighbours.' Other critics include Sinn Fein's Assembly member Colm Gildernew who branded it 'vile' and 'deplorable'. A number of reports to police were made about the bonfire and the material on it and they are investigating it as a hate incident. The PSNI statement added: 'Police are here to help those who are or who feel vulnerable, to keep people safe. 'We do this by working with local communities, partners, elected representatives and other stakeholders to deliver local solutions to local problems, building confidence in policing and supporting a safe environment for people to live, work, visit and invest in Northern Ireland, but we can only do so within the legislative framework that exists.' Moygashel Bonfire Committee said the bonfire 'topper' should not be seen as 'racist, threatening or offensive' and it is 'expressing our disgust at the ongoing crisis that is illegal immigration'. More Trending Bonfires like these are lit annually each year in some unionist areas across Northern Ireland in July to usher in the Twelfth of July, the main date in the parading season. The majority are lit on the eleventh night and the twelfth night commemorates the Battle of the Boyne in 1690 when the Protestant King William III defeated Catholic King James II. The Moygashel bonfire has been known for its controversial displays in the past. A mock police car was burnt on top of the bonfire last year and in 2023, a boat designed to represent the post-Brexit Irish Sea economic border was torched. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Woman charged with murder after man dies in house fire MORE: 'Beautiful and much-loved' mum and daughter, 6, killed in car crash named MORE: Rail ticket gives unlimited travel in 24 countries from £34 — but you need to be quick
Irish Times
11-07-2025
- Health
- Irish Times
Taoiseach condemns effigy of refugees on loyalist bonfire and expresses concern about health risks
Taoiseach Micheál Martin has echoed condemnation by church leaders of the burning of effigies of migrants in a boat atop a loyalist bonfire in Northern Ireland, but he has also expressed concern over the health risks of large bonfires in urban areas. Mr Martin said that he shared the sentiments expressed by the Church of Ireland Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, John McDowell, over the installation of a boat with effigies of refugees on top of a huge bonfire in Moygashel near Dungannon in Co Tyrone. 'I was dismayed when I saw images of that bonfire with the boat carrying migrants – Archbishop McDowell made a strong comment on it and he's right – it's racist, threatening, and offensive and it's unchristian and lacking in any appreciation of human dignity. [ 'Isn't it brilliant' a mother says, photographing her children at the bonfire topped with an effigy of a migrant boat Opens in new window ] 'My most fundamental observation in terms of these bonfires is the public health and safety – from a public health perspective, bonfires do terrible damage. 'I find it incredible [that people are burning asbestos] because burning material like that would cause lung cancer. There was a casualness about that, as a former minister for health has quite shocked me because let's be honest, bonfires are bad for your health.' Mr Martin recalled how when he was growing up in Turner's Cross in Cork in the 1960s and 1970s, he and his friends used to search for tyres to throw on bonfires, but looking back with the benefit of health research, such an approach to bonfires was quite dangerous. 'I know it was a different era, and we were young but now, I just think lighting these bonfires with the scale and size of them in densely populated urban areas with a risk to people too if they fall, I just think it's all so unhealthy.' The Moygashel bonfire with the effigies of eight migrants in life jackets in a boat and signs reading 'Stop the boats' and 'Veterans before refugees' as well as an Irish Tricolour was set alight on Thursday night before a crowd of several hundred onlookers. The PSNI said earlier that they were investigating a hate incident in reference to the 50 pallet high pyre at Moygashel which was described by SDLP leader Claire Hanna as 'disgusting' and by local Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew as 'an incitement to hatred'. Amnesty International's Northern Ireland director Patrick Corrigan said: 'It is just weeks since migrant families were forced to flee for their lives when their homes were attacked and set on fire – a chilling pattern of escalating hostility. 'The authorities must treat this as a hate crime, conduct a full investigation and ensure those responsible are held to account.' The Moygashel bonfire has become well known in recent years for contentious displays. Last year, a mock police car was burnt on the top of the bonfire and in 2023 a boat designed to represent the post-Brexit Irish Sea economic border was torched. Earlier this week, prominent loyalist activist Jamie Bryson said the bonfire was a form of 'artistic protest'. Northern Ireland's Minister for the Environment, Andrew Muir, has said that a separate bonfire in south Belfast should not be set alight. Fresh safety concerns have been raised over asbestos at the site of the fire, which is due to be lit on Friday night. Mr Muir pleaded with anyone who is set to attend the fire to 'exercise caution'. The Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) said late on Thursday that suspected asbestos had been found at five locations on the bonfire site and 20kg of material was removed. Controversy has surrounded the Belfast bonfire at Meridi Street off the Donegall Road which is also close to an electricity substation which powers two hospitals. The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said on Thursday that the force would not agree to a request from Belfast City Council to remove the pyre. – Additional reporting PA
Daily Mail
11-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
'Racist' bonfire with effigy of migrants in life jackets set alight in Northern Ireland
Effigies of life jacket-wearing migrants in boats put on a village bonfire have been set alight - after the structure was dubbed 'sickening' and 'racist'. A sign saying 'stop the boats' was attached to the pyre in Moygashel, on the outskirts of Dungannon in Co Tyrone in Northern Ireland, prompting protests. Another of the placards included stated: 'Veterans before refugees.' The Moygashel bonfire is part of the wider Eleventh Night celebrations in Northern Ireland, which take place on the night of July 11 each year. These bonfires are rooted in Protestant unionist and loyalist tradition and serve as a lead-up to The Twelfth on July 12, a public holiday marking the key historical Battle of the Boyne. The battle happened when Protestant King William of Orange defeated Catholic King James II thereby securing a Protestant line of succession to the British Crown. An Irish tricolour flag was also placed on the bonfire, which is among around 300 which be burned across Thursday and Friday night in the region. Sinn Fein's Assembly member for Fermanagh and South Tyrone, Colm Gildernew, has been among those calling out the 'vile' and 'deplorable' display. Up in flames: The pyre has now been burned as a part of the group's annual traditions Gildernew also called for fellow politicians to take action against the installation. Church of Ireland Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland John McDowell described it as 'racist, threatening and offensive'. The Police Service of Northern Ireland earlier said they were investigating 'material placed upon a bonfire in Moygashel as a hate incident'. The Moygashel bonfire has become well known in recent years for itscontentious displays. Last year, a mock police car was burnt on top of the bonfire, and in 2023, a boat designed to represent the post-Brexit Irish Sea economic border was torched. The bonfire was built days ahead of loyalist groups' annual Twelfth of July parades. Earlier on Thursday, police said they had received a number of reports regarding the bonfire in Moygashel and the material on it. They said: 'Police are investigating this hate incident. Police are here to help those who are or who feel vulnerable, to keep people safe.' The statement continued: 'We do this by working with local communities, partners, elected representatives and other stakeholders to deliver local solutions to local problems, building confidence in policing and supporting a safe environment for people to live, work, visit and invest in Northern Ireland, but we can only do so within the legislative framework that exists.' SDLP leader Claire Hanna also condemned the bonfire, accusing some involved in the bonfire tradition in Northern Ireland of appearing to be motivated by 'hate, confrontation and media rows'. On X she wrote: 'Intricate effigies of humans beings, for burning. Who is this for?' However, prominent loyalist activist Jamie Bryson insisted the display was a form of 'artistic protest', saying: 'Every year Moygashel bonfire combines artistic protest with their cultural celebration.' He said on X: 'Their yearly art has itself become a tradition. This year the focus is on the scandal of mass illegal immigration.'
The Independent
11-07-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Effigy of migrant boat burns on top of Northern Ireland bonfire
A bonfire featuring an effigy of migrants in a boat was lit in Co Tyrone, Northern Ireland, prompting a hate incident investigation. The pyre, which included placards reading "stop the boats" and "veterans before refugees", was one of around 300 expected to be lit across Northern Ireland ahead of the Orange Order 's annual 12 July parades. The Police Service of Northern Ireland confirmed they are investigating the bonfire as a hate incident. The Church of Ireland Archbishop of Armagh, John McDowell, and Amnesty International 's Northern Ireland director, Patrick Corrigan, condemned the bonfire. Watch the video in full above.
Extra.ie
11-07-2025
- Politics
- Extra.ie
Tyrone bonfire with 'hateful' migrant boat effigy on top set alight
A controversial bonfire in Co Tyrone that was topped with an effigy of a migrant boat has been set alight ahead of the 12th of July celebrations. The pyre, which was built in the Moygashel area on the outskirts of Dungannon in Tyrone, saw an effigy of a boat of migrants with a sign that said 'stop the boats' on it, with the PSNI claiming that they were investigating the bonfire as a 'hate incident.' The bonfire was also topped off with an Irish tricolour flag, and burned down ahead of the annual 12th of July parades by the Orange Order. A controversial bonfire in Co Tyrone that was topped with an effigy of a migrant boat has been set alight ahead of the 12th of July celebrations. Pic: Jonathan McCambridge/PA Wire/PA Image The display has been condemned by political representatives across the Northern Irish spectrum, with Archbishop and Primate of All Ireland John McDowell of the Church of Ireland calling the bonfire 'racist, threatening and offensive.' Amnesty International's Northern Ireland Director Patrick Corrigan also condemned the bonfire, calling it a 'vile, dehumanising act that fuels hatred and racism.' Loyalist spokesperson Jamie Bryson defended it, however, saying that the bonfires are a combination of 'artistic protest with their cultural celebration.' The bonfire was then topped with an Irish tricolour, and burned down on Thursday night. Pic: Niall Carson/PA Wire/PA Images 'Their yearly art has itself become a tradition,' he wrote on Twitter (X). 'This year the focus is on the scandal of mass illegal immigration.' Previous iterations of the Moygashel bonfires include having police cars on top of the pyres, as well as a boat that depicted the post-Brexit Irish Sea border. The PSNI have said that they were investigating the bonfire as a hate crime, saying in a since deleted statement 'Police are investigating this hate incident. Police are here to help those who are or who feel vulnerable, to keep people safe.' The bonfire was reported to the PSNI as a hate crime. Pic: Jonathan McCambridge/PA Wire 'We do this by working with local communities, partners, elected representatives and other stakeholders to deliver local solutions to local problems, building confidence in policing and supporting a safe environment for people to live, work, visit and invest in Northern Ireland, but we can only do so within the legislative framework that exists.'
