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BreakingNews.ie
12-07-2025
- BreakingNews.ie
Firefighters deal with ‘challenging night' ahead of July 12th Orange Order parades
Firefighters in Northern Ireland said they dealt with a challenging night as bonfires were lit ahead of the July 12th celebrations. Tens of thousands will take to the streets across the region for the traditional Orange Order parades on Saturday. Advertisement The festivities will be spread across 19 main locations to mark the 334th anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne, where the Protestant King William of Orange triumphed over the Catholic King James II. It comes after the burning of bonfires at an estimated 300 locations in loyalist neighbourhoods across the region on Thursday and Friday nights. While most of the bonfires passed off peacefully, there was condemnation after effigies of migrants in a boat were burned on a bonfire in Moygashel, Co Tyrone. Pictures of Belfast Irish language rap band Kneecap and Irish flags were also burned on other pyres. Advertisement It was a challenging & extremely busy night for NIFRS. Between 6pm & 2am, we received 277 emergency calls. This resulted in our Firefighters attending 194 operational incidents, 72 of these incidents were bonfire related. Read our full statement: — Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (@NIFRSOFFICIAL) July 12, 2025 But the most contentious bonfire was located on a site containing asbestos and close to an electricity substation off the Donegall Road in south Belfast. The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) said it dealt with 72 bonfire-related incidents across the evening. One firefighter was attacked while attending a bonfire in Lisburn, Co Antrim. NIFRS area commander Andy Burns said: 'Between 6pm 11 July and 2am 12 July 2025, we received 277 emergency 999 calls. Advertisement 'This resulted in our firefighters attending 194 operational incidents, 72 of which were webonfire-related. Peak activity was between 10pm and 1am. 'During this period, the number of emergency calls received increased by 154 per cent when compared to 2024. 'It was a challenging and extremely busy night for NIFRS with an increase in demand for our regional control centre and emergency response.' The spokesperson added: 'Disappointingly, a firefighter was attacked while attending a bonfire in Lisburn. They were not injured and remained on duty. Advertisement 'This was an isolated incident and not reflective of the support shown to firefighters in carrying out their duties across the evening.' Effigies of controversial Irish rappers Kneecap placed on a bonfire on Roden Street in Belfast (Niall Carson/PA) Of all the loyal order parades to take place on Saturday, around 30 have been officially categorised as sensitive by the Parades Commission. Locations of sensitive parades this year include Belfast, Coleraine, Keady, Dunloy, Rasharkin, Strabane, Newtownabbey, Maghera, Newtownbutler, Portadown, Glengormley and Bellaghy. More than 4,000 police officers and police staff will be working on July 12th. Advertisement On the 11th night, around 1,200 officers were deployed to monitor public safety at bonfires. The cost of policing parades and bonfires in Northern Ireland through spring and summer was €7 million (£6.1 million) last year, a figure that was up €1.7 million (£1.5 million) on the previous year. The bill, which covers the period April 1st to August 31st, also includes the cost of policing republican commemorations around Easter and events to mark the mid-August anniversary of the introduction of internment without trial during the Troubles. The PSNI expects the costs in 2025 to be higher still. This is due to falling police numbers and the resultant increased reliance on paying overtime to ensure enough officers are on duty for the events. Chief Constable Jon Boutcher has urged mutual respect in the marking of events. He said: 'Our officers will be on the ground throughout the weekend, working in partnership with community leaders, event organisers, and local representatives to support lawful, peaceful, and family-friendly events. However where necessary, we will take firm and proportionate action to keep people safe. 'Our priority remains the safety and wellbeing of everyone.' On Sunday morning, an Orange Order parade has been permitted to pass Ardoyne shops in north Belfast, restricted to one band and 50 members of the order. It is a return parade at a former flashpoint, which traditionally took place on the evening of July 12th, often resulting in violent scenes. Meanwhile, the traditional July 13th events organised by the Royal Black Preceptory in the village of Scarva, Co Armagh, will take place on Monday. The event includes a parade as well as a sham fight between actors playing rival monarchs William and James.


Daily Mail
12-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Have YOU got a story? Email: poppy.gibson@mailonline.co.uk
A firefighter was attacked during a night of bonfires across Northern Ireland ahead of the annual Orange Order parades. The emergency service worker was attacked while attending a bonfire in Lisburn, eight miles outside Belfast but was uninjured and remained on duty. The incident occurred on Friday as tens of thousands prepared to take to the streets across the region for the traditional celebrations on Saturday. As part of the festivities effigies of rap trio Kneecap were set alight and Irish flags were burned on pyres along with 300 other bonfires in loyalist neighbourhoods across the region on Thursday and Friday nights. It comes after widespread condemnation of the celebrations after effigies of migrants in a boat were burned on a bonfire in Moygashel, County Tyrone on Thursday. Bonfires raged across the country to mark the 334th anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne where the Protestant King William of Orange triumphed over the Catholic King James II. Effigies burned ahead of this year's parades included the controversial Irish band Kneecap with signs placed on pyres reading 'Kill Your Local Kneecap' - seemingly a response to a clip that emerged from a gig in 2023 that appeared to show a member telling people to murder their MP. Elsewhere, posters depicting the Irish rap group Kneecap, Irish flags and Palestinian flags appeared on other bonfires on Friday evening. Effigies of the band members were placed on a pyre in south Belfast, as well as a sign written in the Irish language. The depictions of Kneecap come after the Police Service of Northern Ireland said they were investigating a hate incident in relation to a fire which featured life-sized effigies of a migrants in a dinghy, wearing life jackets. Below the boat were several placards, one saying: 'Stop the boats', and another saying: 'Veterans before refugees.' In recent years, the Moygashel bonfires have come under scrutiny for their controversial displays which have seen them venture into politics and contentious cultural points. 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. Meanwhile the most contentious bonfire was located on a site containing asbestos and close to an electricity sub station off the Donegall Road in south Belfast. The PSNI said on Thursday that the force would not agree to a request from Belfast City Council to remove the pyre on the site off the Donegall Road. The police force along with members of the legislative assembly encouraged the public to stay away from the site on health and safety grounds. However the Grand Secretary of the Orange Order Rev Mervyn Gibson said people should 'go and enjoy themselves' at the bonfire. He told the BBC that a council committee vote earlier this week to remove the bonfire was a 'political decision'. A pyre set alight at Meridi Street, off the Donegall Road in Belfast as part of the Twelfth commemorations marking the anniversary of the Protestant King William's victory over the Catholic King James at the Battle of the Boyne in 1690 The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) said it dealt with 72 bonfire related incidents across Friday evening. One firefighter was attacked while attending a bonfire in Lisburn, Co Antrim. NIFRS area commander Andy Burns said: 'Between 6pm 11 July and 2am 12 July 2025, we received 277 emergency 999 calls. 'This resulted in our firefighters attending 194 operational incidents, 72 of which were bonfire related. Peak activity was between 10pm and 1am. 'During this period, the number of emergency calls received increased by 154% when compared to 2024. 'It was a challenging and extremely busy night for NIFRS with an increase in demand for our regional control centre and emergency response.' The spokesperson added: 'Disappointingly, a firefighter was attacked while attending a bonfire in Lisburn. They were not injured and remained on duty. 'This was an isolated incident and not reflective of the support shown to firefighters in carrying out their duties across the evening.' The Police Service of Northern Ireland said they were investigating a hate incident in relation to a fire which featured life-sized effigies of a migrants in a dinghy, wearing life jackets Of all the loyal order parades to take place on Saturday, around 30 have been officially categorised as sensitive by the Parades Commission. Locations of sensitive parades this year include Belfast, Coleraine, Keady, Dunloy, Rasharkin, Strabane, Newtownabbey, Maghera, Newtownbutler, Portadown, Glengormley and Bellaghy. More than 4,000 police officers and police staff will be working on July 12. On the 11th night, around 1,200 officers were deployed to monitor public safety at bonfires. The cost of policing parades and bonfires in Northern Ireland through spring and summer was £6.1 million last year, a figure that was up £1.5 million on the previous year. The bill, which covers the period April 1 to August 31, also includes the cost of policing republican commemorations around Easter and events to mark the mid-August anniversary of the introduction of internment without trial during the Troubles. The PSNI expects the costs in 2025 to be higher still. This is due to falling police numbers and the resultant increased reliance on paying overtime to ensure enough officers are on duty for the events. Chief Constable Jon Boutcher has urged mutual respect in the marking of events. He said: 'Our officers will be on the ground throughout the weekend, working in partnership with community leaders, event organisers, and local representatives to support lawful, peaceful, and family-friendly events. However where necessary, we will take firm and proportionate action to keep people safe. 'Our priority remains the safety and wellbeing of everyone.' On Sunday morning, an Orange Order parade has been permitted to pass Ardoyne shops in north Belfast restricted to one band and 50 members of the order. It is a return parade at a former flashpoint which traditionally took place on the evening of July 12 often resulting in violent scenes. Meanwhile, the traditional July 13 events organised by the Royal Black Preceptory in the village of Scarva, Co Armagh will take place on Monday.
Yahoo
12-07-2025
- Yahoo
Firefighters deal with ‘challenging night' ahead of July 12 Orange Order parades
Firefighters in Northern Ireland said they dealt with a challenging night as bonfires were lit ahead of the July 12 celebrations. Tens of thousands will take to the streets across the region for the traditional Orange Order parades on Saturday. The festivities will be spread across 19 main locations to mark the 334th anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne where the Protestant King William of Orange triumphed over the Catholic King James II. It comes after the burning of bonfires at an estimated 300 locations in loyalist neighbourhoods across the region on Thursday and Friday nights. While most of the bonfires passed off peacefully, there was condemnation after effigies of migrants in a boat were burned on a bonfire in Moygashel, Co Tyrone. Pictures of the Irish rap band Kneecap and Irish flags were also burned on other pyres. It was a challenging & extremely busy night for NIFRS. Between 6pm & 2am, we received 277 emergency calls. This resulted in our Firefighters attending 194 operational incidents, 72 of these incidents were bonfire related. Read our full statement: — Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (@NIFRSOFFICIAL) July 12, 2025 But the most contentious bonfire was located on a site containing asbestos and close to an electricity sub station off the Donegall Road in south Belfast. The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) said it dealt with 72 bonfire related incidents across the evening. One firefighter was attacked while attending a bonfire in Lisburn, Co Antrim. NIFRS area commander Andy Burns said: 'Between 6pm 11 July and 2am 12 July 2025, we received 277 emergency 999 calls. 'This resulted in our firefighters attending 194 operational incidents, 72 of which were bonfire related. Peak activity was between 10pm and 1am. 'During this period, the number of emergency calls received increased by 154% when compared to 2024. 'It was a challenging and extremely busy night for NIFRS with an increase in demand for our regional control centre and emergency response.' The spokesperson added: 'Disappointingly, a firefighter was attacked while attending a bonfire in Lisburn. They were not injured and remained on duty. 'This was an isolated incident and not reflective of the support shown to firefighters in carrying out their duties across the evening.' Of all the loyal order parades to take place on Saturday, around 30 have been officially categorised as sensitive by the Parades Commission. Locations of sensitive parades this year include Belfast, Coleraine, Keady, Dunloy, Rasharkin, Strabane, Newtownabbey, Maghera, Newtownbutler, Portadown, Glengormley and Bellaghy. More than 4,000 police officers and police staff will be working on July 12. On the 11th night, around 1,200 officers were deployed to monitor public safety at bonfires. The cost of policing parades and bonfires in Northern Ireland through spring and summer was £6.1 million last year, a figure that was up £1.5 million on the previous year. The bill, which covers the period April 1 to August 31, also includes the cost of policing republican commemorations around Easter and events to mark the mid-August anniversary of the introduction of internment without trial during the Troubles. The PSNI expects the costs in 2025 to be higher still. This is due to falling police numbers and the resultant increased reliance on paying overtime to ensure enough officers are on duty for the events. Chief Constable Jon Boutcher has urged mutual respect in the marking of events. He said: 'Our officers will be on the ground throughout the weekend, working in partnership with community leaders, event organisers, and local representatives to support lawful, peaceful, and family-friendly events. However where necessary, we will take firm and proportionate action to keep people safe. 'Our priority remains the safety and wellbeing of everyone.' On Sunday morning, an Orange Order parade has been permitted to pass Ardoyne shops in north Belfast restricted to one band and 50 members of the order. It is a return parade at a former flashpoint which traditionally took place on the evening of July 12 often resulting in violent scenes. Meanwhile, the traditional July 13 events organised by the Royal Black Preceptory in the village of Scarva, Co Armagh will take place on Monday. The event includes a parade as well as a sham fight between actors playing rival monarchs William and James.


The Independent
12-07-2025
- The Independent
Tens of thousands take to streets for annual July 12 Orange Order parades
Tens of thousands are set to take to the streets across Northern Ireland for the Orange Order's annual July 12 parades. The festivities will be spread across 19 main locations to mark the 334th anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne where the Protestant King William of Orange triumphed over the Catholic King James II. It comes after the burning of bonfires at an estimated 300 locations in loyalist neighbourhoods across the region on Thursday and Friday nights. On Sunday morning, an Orange Order parade has been permitted to pass Ardoyne shops in north Belfast restricted to one band and 50 members of the order. It is a return parade at a former flashpoint which traditionally took place on the evening of July 12 often resulting in violent scenes. Meanwhile, the traditional July 13 events organised by the Royal Black Preceptory in the village of Scarva, Co Armagh will take place on Monday. The event includes a parade as well as a sham fight between actors playing rival monarchs William and James. While most of the bonfires passed off peacefully, there was condemnation after effigies of migrants in a boat were burned on a bonfire in Moygashel, Co Tyrone. Pictures of the Irish rap band Kneecap and Irish flags were also burned on other pyres. But the most contentious bonfire was located on a site containing asbestos and close to an electricity sub station off the Donegall Road in south Belfast. Of all the loyal order parades to take place on Saturday, around 30 have been officially categorised as sensitive by the Parades Commission. Locations of sensitive parades this year include Belfast, Coleraine, Keady, Dunloy, Rasharkin, Strabane, Newtownabbey, Maghera, Newtownbutler, Portadown, Glengormley and Bellaghy. More than 4,000 police officers and police staff will be working on July 12. On the 11th night, around 1,200 officers were deployed to monitor public safety at bonfires. The cost of policing parades and bonfires in Northern Ireland through spring and summer was £6.1 million last year, a figure that was up £1.5 million on the previous year. The bill, which covers the period April 1 to August 31, also includes the cost of policing republican commemorations around Easter and events to mark the mid-August anniversary of the introduction of internment without trial during the Troubles. The PSNI expects the costs in 2025 to be higher still. This is due to falling police numbers and the resultant increased reliance on paying overtime to ensure enough officers are on duty for the events. Chief Constable Jon Boutcher has urged mutual respect in the marking of events. 'These celebrations and others that occur throughout the year are a valued part of Northern Ireland's local history and culture,' he said. 'They can and should be occasions where communities come together in a spirit of inclusiveness and pride, through local traditions. 'Mutual respect is the foundation of strong, safe communities. 'There is no place for hate or intimidation—only space for celebration that welcomes and celebrates not divides. 'Our officers will be on the ground throughout the weekend, working in partnership with community leaders, event organisers, and local representatives to support lawful, peaceful, and family-friendly events. However where necessary, we will take firm and proportionate action to keep people safe. 'Our priority remains the safety and wellbeing of everyone. 'Let's ensure that this weekend reflects the very best of our communities: proud, respectful, and united.'
Yahoo
12-07-2025
- Yahoo
Tens of thousands take to streets for annual July 12 Orange Order parades
Tens of thousands are set to take to the streets across Northern Ireland for the Orange Order's annual July 12 parades. The festivities will be spread across 19 main locations to mark the 334th anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne where the Protestant King William of Orange triumphed over the Catholic King James II. It comes after the burning of bonfires at an estimated 300 locations in loyalist neighbourhoods across the region on Thursday and Friday nights. On Sunday morning, an Orange Order parade has been permitted to pass Ardoyne shops in north Belfast restricted to one band and 50 members of the order. It is a return parade at a former flashpoint which traditionally took place on the evening of July 12 often resulting in violent scenes. Meanwhile, the traditional July 13 events organised by the Royal Black Preceptory in the village of Scarva, Co Armagh will take place on Monday. The event includes a parade as well as a sham fight between actors playing rival monarchs William and James. While most of the bonfires passed off peacefully, there was condemnation after effigies of migrants in a boat were burned on a bonfire in Moygashel, Co Tyrone. Pictures of the Irish rap band Kneecap and Irish flags were also burned on other pyres. But the most contentious bonfire was located on a site containing asbestos and close to an electricity sub station off the Donegall Road in south Belfast. Of all the loyal order parades to take place on Saturday, around 30 have been officially categorised as sensitive by the Parades Commission. Locations of sensitive parades this year include Belfast, Coleraine, Keady, Dunloy, Rasharkin, Strabane, Newtownabbey, Maghera, Newtownbutler, Portadown, Glengormley and Bellaghy. More than 4,000 police officers and police staff will be working on July 12. On the 11th night, around 1,200 officers were deployed to monitor public safety at bonfires. The cost of policing parades and bonfires in Northern Ireland through spring and summer was £6.1 million last year, a figure that was up £1.5 million on the previous year. The bill, which covers the period April 1 to August 31, also includes the cost of policing republican commemorations around Easter and events to mark the mid-August anniversary of the introduction of internment without trial during the Troubles. The PSNI expects the costs in 2025 to be higher still. This is due to falling police numbers and the resultant increased reliance on paying overtime to ensure enough officers are on duty for the events. Chief Constable Jon Boutcher has urged mutual respect in the marking of events. 'These celebrations and others that occur throughout the year are a valued part of Northern Ireland's local history and culture,' he said. 'They can and should be occasions where communities come together in a spirit of inclusiveness and pride, through local traditions. 'Mutual respect is the foundation of strong, safe communities. 'There is no place for hate or intimidation—only space for celebration that welcomes and celebrates not divides. 'Our officers will be on the ground throughout the weekend, working in partnership with community leaders, event organisers, and local representatives to support lawful, peaceful, and family-friendly events. However where necessary, we will take firm and proportionate action to keep people safe. 'Our priority remains the safety and wellbeing of everyone. 'Let's ensure that this weekend reflects the very best of our communities: proud, respectful, and united.'