Latest news with #bonfire
BBC News
12 hours ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Bogside: DUP says Sinn Féin's silence 'deafening' over bonfire
The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) has accused Sinn Féin of a "deafening" silence over plans for a republican bonfire on private land in Londonderry, which has stalled work on a £11m development. Last week, a man needed hospital treatment after he fell from the bonfire which is under construction at Meenan Square in the site is managed by Apex Housing, which has had to delay work on a project because it cannot find a contractor willing to remove the bonfire member Gary Middleton said there was a "void of political leadership from Sinn Féin in the Bogside" over the bonfire, which has sparked controversy in recent years. Sinn Féin has been asked for comment. Last year, police said they were treating the display of flags and banners - including union flags, a King Charles coronation flag and the flag of Israel - on the bonfire in the Bogside as a hate 2022, police investigated shots being fired near the site and in 2021 posters placed on the bonfire referenced former Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) Chief Constable Simon Byrne and another the murder of Catholic police officer Ronan Kerr."This bonfire has been a source of serious concern for some time, causing disruption, raising safety fears and delaying an £11 million publicly-funded redevelopment project," Middleton said."That investment is being stalled because not a single contractor is willing to go near the site to remove materials, citing threats and safety risks."It is time they [Sinn Féin] stepped up and made clear this situation is unacceptable." Injured man transferred to Belfast hospital Last Wednesday evening, a man was seriously hurt after falling from the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) confirmed that a man was taken to injured man was treated for undisclosed injuries at Altnagelvin Hospital in Derry, before being transferred to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Housing has declined to comment but previously said it was continuing to re-secure boundary fencing and gates following repeated incidents of "forced entry" at the £11m development will include social housing, community services, retail, commercial and office space. The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said it was committed to working with partners, including local councils and community representatives, to address community safety issues linked to City and Strabane District Council said, while it does not authorise or regulate bonfires, it does engage with a wide range of partners to minimise the impact on communities.A spokesperson said it would continue to liaise with the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) regarding the storage and disposal of tyres and other materials which may be placed on bonfires. Why is the bonfire being lit? Bonfires on 15 August are traditional in some nationalist parts of Northern Ireland to mark the Catholic Feast of the bonfires are also lit in August to commemorate the introduction of internment without trial of republican suspects during the Troubles, which was introduced by the UK Government in 1971.
The Independent
12-07-2025
- The Independent
Watch: Eleventh Night bonfires lit across Northern Ireland
Showing now | News 00:24 Hebe Campbell Watch a compilation of beacon bonfires being set alight across Belfast as communities mark the Eleventh Night. Footage captures towering bonfires in areas such as Meridi Street, off the Donegall Road, and Orangefield Park in east Belfast, among others across Northern Ireland. While most events passed peacefully, the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service responded to 72 bonfire-related incidents from Friday night into Saturday.
BBC News
12-07-2025
- Climate
- BBC News
Church Stretton garden heatwave bonfire plea after blaze causes power loss
Residents in Shropshire are being asked to think twice about having a garden bonfire, after one fire spread to a pole and left people without electricity. A small bonfire was lit and spread to a neighbour's shed, a fence and the electric pole in Church Stretton, burning overhead power lines, Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service said on a small spark from a garden bonfire could cause "so much damage and heartache for everyone", a spokesperson urged people to "please think" in this hot dry spell. Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
The Independent
12-07-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Muir ‘very disappointed' bonfire was lit despite warnings over asbestos
Northern Ireland's Environment Minister Andrew Muir has said he is 'very disappointed' that an Eleventh Night bonfire was lit in south Belfast despite warnings over asbestos on the site. The bonfire at Meridi Street, off the Donegall Road, had been the focus of health warnings, political rows and legal challenges throughout the week before it was ignited on Friday. Meanwhile, firefighters said they dealt with a 'challenging' situation on the Eleventh Night across Northern Ireland, including an attack on a firefighter attending a bonfire in Lisburn. Hundreds of bonfires were set alight on Friday ahead of the Orange Order's July 12 parades on Saturday. Controversy had surrounded the Meridi Street pyre, after warnings that there was asbestos on the site and that it was close to an electricity substation which powers the city's two main hospitals. In a statement on Saturday, Mr Muir said: 'I am very disappointed with the decision to light the bonfire. 'Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) staff monitored events last night along with statutory partners throughout the night. 'We will be engaging with other statutory partners in the coming days as we all assess the impact of the bonfire. 'NIEA will also focus on the efforts by the landowner to remove the asbestos pile safely from the site in the time ahead and the environmental crime investigation will continue. 'As I have already stated, a review must also be undertaken looking at lessons that can be learned involving all statutory partners.' Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) area commander Andy Burns said they dealt with 277 emergency 999 calls between 6pm on Friday and 2am on Saturday. He said: '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.' He 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.' Sinn Fein councillor Declan Lynch said it was 'absolutely disgraceful that a firefighter was attacked while simply doing their job'. He added: 'Everyone should be able to celebrate their culture, but it must be done in a safe and respectful manner. 'Firefighters worked under difficult conditions last night to protect lives, property and infrastructure across the north. 'They deserve our full support and should never face violence for keeping our communities safe.' Meanwhile, effigies of the Irish rap group Kneecap topped a different bonfire in south Belfast, and there was condemnation of the placing of Irish flags and sectarian slogans on other pyres in loyalist neighbourhoods. A bonfire at Roden Street in Belfast was topped with effigies of Kneecap, as well as a sign written in the Irish language. A bonfire in Eastvale Avenue in Dungannon, Co Tyrone, featured the group on a poster with the wording 'Kill Your Local Kneecap', seemingly in response to a clip that emerged from a gig in 2023, which appeared to show a member saying: 'The only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP.' There was also criticism of the placing of Irish flags and sectarian slogans on a number of bonfires, including one in the Highfield area of west Belfast. A small number of bonfires were lit on Thursday night, including a controversial pyre in Moygashel, Co Tyrone, which had been widely criticised by political representatives and church leaders after it was topped with an effigy of migrants in a boat. The PSNI said they were investigating a hate incident in relation to the fire. The boat on top of the bonfire contained more than a dozen life-sized mannequins wearing life jackets. Below the boat were several placards, one saying: 'Stop the boats', and another saying: 'Veterans before refugees'.
BreakingNews.ie
12-07-2025
- Politics
- BreakingNews.ie
NI Environment Minister ‘very disappointed' bonfire was lit despite warnings over asbestos
Northern Ireland's Environment Minister, Andrew Muir, has said he is 'very disappointed' that an Eleventh Night bonfire was lit in south Belfast despite warnings over asbestos on the site. The bonfire at Meridi Street, off the Donegall Road, had been the focus of health warnings, political rows and legal challenges throughout the week before it was ignited on Friday. Advertisement Meanwhile, firefighters said they dealt with a 'challenging' situation on the Eleventh Night across Northern Ireland, including an attack on a firefighter attending a bonfire in Lisburn. Hundreds of bonfires were set alight on Friday ahead of the Orange Order's July 12th parades on Saturday. Controversy had surrounded the Meridi Street pyre, after warnings that there was asbestos on the site and that it was close to an electricity substation which powers the city's two main hospitals. In a statement on Saturday, Mr Muir said: 'I am very disappointed with the decision to light the bonfire. Advertisement 'Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) staff monitored events last night along with statutory partners throughout the night. 'We will be engaging with other statutory partners in the coming days as we all assess the impact of the bonfire. An Eleventh Night bonfire in Orangefield Park in east Belfast (David Young/PA) 'NIEA will also focus on the efforts by the landowner to remove the asbestos pile safely from the site in the time ahead, and the environmental crime investigation will continue. 'As I have already stated, a review must also be undertaken, looking at lessons that can be learned involving all statutory partners.' Advertisement Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) area commander Andy Burns said they dealt with 277 emergency 999 calls between 6pm on Friday and 2am on Saturday. He said: 'This resulted in our firefighters attending 194 operational incidents, 72 of which were bonfire related. 'Peak activity was between 10pm and 1am. Effigies of controversial Irish rappers Kneecap on a bonfire on Roden Street in Belfast (Niall Carson/PA) 'During this period, the number of emergency calls received increased by 154% when compared to 2024. Advertisement 'It was a challenging and extremely busy night for NIFRS with an increase in demand for our regional control centre and emergency response.' He 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.' Sinn Fein councillor Declan Lynch said it was 'absolutely disgraceful that a firefighter was attacked while simply doing their job'. Advertisement He added: 'Everyone should be able to celebrate their culture, but it must be done in a safe and respectful manner. The Moygashel bonfire was set alight on Thursday night (Niall Carson/PA) 'Firefighters worked under difficult conditions last night to protect lives, property and infrastructure across the north. 'They deserve our full support and should never face violence for keeping our communities safe.' Meanwhile, effigies of the Irish rap group Kneecap topped a different bonfire in south Belfast, and there was condemnation of the placing of Irish flags and sectarian slogans on other pyres in loyalist neighbourhoods. A bonfire at Roden Street in Belfast was topped with effigies of Kneecap, as well as a sign written in the Irish language. A bonfire in Eastvale Avenue in Dungannon, Co Tyrone, featured the group on a poster with the wording 'Kill Your Local Kneecap', seemingly in response to a clip that emerged from a gig in 2023, which appeared to show a member saying: 'The only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP.' There was also criticism of the placing of Irish flags and sectarian slogans on a number of bonfires, including one in the Highfield area of west Belfast. A small number of bonfires were lit on Thursday night, including a controversial pyre in Moygashel, Co Tyrone, which had been widely criticised by political representatives and church leaders after it was topped with an effigy of migrants in a boat. The PSNI said they were investigating a hate incident in relation to the fire. The boat on top of the bonfire contained more than a dozen life-sized mannequins wearing life jackets. Below the boat were several placards, one saying: 'Stop the boats', and another saying: 'Veterans before refugees'.
