Stormont minister criticises bonfire at asbestos site as Kneecap effigies and Irish language signage destroyed

Belfast Telegraph

a day ago

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 lit on Friday night.
Effigies of rap trio Kneecap and an Irish language slogan urging people to 'kill your local Kneecap' were burnt on the bonfire.
It was one of dozens of bonfires which were ignited to mark Eleventh Night.
The NI Fire & Rescue Service said it was 'a challenging and extremely busy night'.
In one incident in Lisburn, a firefighter was attacked at a bonfire.
Meanwhile, in Belfast, a controversial bonfire that the City Council wanted removed went ahead as planned.
Figures appearing to be dressed in the style of rappers Moghlaí Bap, DJ Próvaí and Mo Chara appeared on the pyre in the Village area.
Belfast City Council had on Wednesday ordered the dismantling of the structure following fears over its proximity to a nearby electrical substation and the presence of loose asbestos at the site.
However, the bonfire was lit after the PSNI deemed it too dangerous to intervene.
As well as the effigies, the bonfire contained an Irish tricolour and Palestine flag, as well as a sign penned in Irish which reads: 'Maraigh do aitiúil Kneecap'.
Though grammatically incorrect, the message roughly translates as 'Kill your local Kneecap', an apparent reference to comments made by the band about Tory MPs – for which the group later apologised.
Another sign read 'SDLP and Alliance do not represent our community'.
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."
Separately, a poster featuring Kneecap along with sectarian slogans was attached to an Eleventh Night bonfire in Co Tyrone.
The banner, which had a photograph of the west Belfast band as its backdrop, was cable-tied to the pallets used to construct the bonfire in Eastvale Avenue in Dungannon.
It featured the heading 'Kill your local Kneecap', with a further line stating 'The only good one is a dead one'. In the centre of the poster is the acronym 'KAT', with 'Death to Hamas' and 'Destroy all Irish Republicans' also on the banner.
At Sandy Row, an effigy wearing a Celtic jersey and a tricolour balaclava was placed on top of a bonfire alongside two Palestinian flags.
A posted reading 'F**k Kneecap and Palestine' was fixed to the structure along with another notice reading 'Stop the Boats. Deport Illegals. Stop the Invasion'.
The NI fire service said it was one of its busiest nights of the year.
Between 6pm yesterday and 2am this morning, the NIFRS received 277 emergency 999 calls and attended 194 incidents - 72 of which were bonfire related.
'During this period, the number of emergency calls received increased by 154% when compared to 2024,' Area Commander Andy Burns said.
'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.'
Yesterday Sinn Fein MP Paul Maskey described similar sectarian displays on a bonfire in west Belfast as 'sickening'.
The offensive banners appeared on a pyre alongside Irish tricolours in the Highfield area of the city, with police confirming the banners are being treated as 'motivated by hate'.
The 'KAT' slur has this time been painted onto one of the flags in block capital letters and hung above a sign that reads 'stop the boats'.
Another sign with 'ATAT' and 'HYL' painted on it alongside a crosshair target has also been spotted at the site in addition to a sign that warns 'PSNI not welcome in loyalist Highfield'.
'Such open and sickening displays of sectarian and racist hatred have absolutely no place in our society,' said Mr Maskey.
"Political unionism must speak out and demand the removal of these offensive materials.
'Real leadership is needed, although it has been sorely lacking in these communities for some time.
'This is clearly a hate crime, and I have reported it to the PSNI.'
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A PSNI spokesperson said: 'Police have received reports regarding offensive signage placed on a bonfire in the Highfield area and in the Eastvale area of Dungannon.
'Enquiries into these matters, which are being treated as being motivated by hate, are ongoing.'
Meanwhile, a drone carrying an Irish tricolour was spotted flying over the Shankill Road as the community prepared to light their bonfire.
Footage on social media appeared to show the drone performing laps of the area.