Latest news with #BelfastCityCouncil
Belfast Telegraph
6 days ago
- Belfast Telegraph
Wife of Armagh GAA legend a director of company that owns Belfast ‘asbestos bonfire' site
Plans to remove the hazardous material were scuppered after area couldn't be secured The wife of Armagh All-Ireland winning captain and manager Kieran McGeeney is linked to the company that owns the land in Belfast where a controversial loyalist bonfire was built. The pyre in the Village area was lit on the Eleventh Night despite plans by Belfast City Council to remove it due to asbestos on the derelict site and its proximity to an electricity substation that serves two hospitals.
BBC News
6 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Belfast: Mary Ann McCracken statue damaged in suspected vandalism
A statue of anti-slavery campaigner Mary Ann McCracken at the front of Belfast City Hall has been damaged in a suspected act of vandalism. The Irish language section of the four plaques at the base of the statue was left partially torn on Friday morning. The damaged plaque has since been removed, and Belfast City Council say the incident "will be looked into" and the plaque "replaced as soon as possible".The statue was unveiled on International Women's Day in 2024 alongside a statue of suffragist and trade unionist Winifred Carney. 'Disgusting' Belfast SDLP Councillor Gary McKeown condemned the attack on the statue and called for an investigation into the incident. "The vandalism of the Mary Ann McCracken statue is disgusting and will appal people right across Belfast and beyond," he said. "Belfast has an embarrassingly low number of statues dedicated to women, so the unveiling of this one in the grounds of City Hall last year was particularly welcome and I was delighted to be in attendance. He added that it is "notable that it was an Irish language section on the statue that was targeted" which he said shows more intolerance. Who was Mary Ann McCracken? Mary Ann McCracken was born into a middle-class Presbyterian family in 1770 and was one of seven father was a sea captain and her grandfather set up the News Letter, the world's oldest English-language daily went to school with boys and girls - which was unusual at the time - and was heavily involved in the Belfast Charitable Society and Poor House which her family helped to set was a supporter of the United Irishmen, a group that was co-founded by her brother Henry Joy McCracken. He was later executed in 1798 for his role in the failed rebellion. She campaigned all her life to end slavery as an active member of the Belfast Ladies Anti-Slavery Association, even refusing to eat sugar as it was a product of the slave trade and West Indies until her late 80s, she could be found in Belfast's docks where she warned emigrants bound for the United States about died in July 1866 at the age of 96, but her grave remained unmarked until 1909 when her name and the inscription Díleas go h-éag, or Faithful Until Death, was added.
Sunday World
17-07-2025
- Sunday World
Volunteer locked in with lions at zoo still waiting on compo
Voluntary zoo worker's case yet to be resolved by Belfast City Council There had been speculation in recent days that the council had finally reached a settlement with the unpaid worker who was left face to face with a Barbary lion after being accidentally locked in the lions' cage. It has been almost a year since the incident and it is understood the negotiation for damages and compensation has been complicated with issues surrounding the zoo's insurance and the victim's aftercare in the wake of the traumatic incident. At the time the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA) confirmed it was working with Belfast Zoo after incident. An immediate investigation was launched which centred on how such a glaring error could have happened, an error that put the victim's life at risk. At the time a spokesperson for BIAZA, which represents the best zoos and aquariums in the world, said it was aware of the incident, and was actively engaging with Belfast City Council. 'The zoo has informed BIAZA that Belfast City Council, which owns and operates the zoo, is undertaking an investigation,' they added. The professional body is a member of both the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums and the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria. It collaborates with its members to further conservation science, natural history, and environmental education and animal welfare around the world. According to a source familiar with details of the incident, the person involved was initially in the enclosure alongside a member of staff. 'The lions were originally kept in their den while (the individual) was in the enclosure with a more experienced staff member,' he said. They said that the experienced employee then left the paddock. The gate was locked and the animals were free to move around — meaning the person was 'locked in' with the lions with 'nowhere to go'. The lion enclosure Belfast Zoo is home to a pride of Barbary lions which includes one male lion named Qays and two females, Fidda and Theibba. The breed is one of the largest sub-species and is extinct in the wild. The last picture of a wild Barbary lion, favoured by the Romans in the amphitheatres of the empire, was taken in the mountains Morrocco in 1925. 'This big cat measures one metre in height at the shoulder and up to three and a half metres in length,' the zoo's website states. 'Average weight can be up to 230 kilograms.' Sources close to the Zoo told the Sunday World that a settlement was close but this week in response to a query from the Sunday World , the council confirmed the issue was 'unresolved'. Belfast City Council, which owns the facility, previously confirmed a probe was under way. 'Council is aware of an incident at the lion enclosure at Belfast Zoo earlier this month,' a spokesperson said. 'We take the safety of all our staff, visitors and animals very seriously, and an investigation is under way into the circumstances of this incident. 'We cannot comment further while this is ongoing.' Belfast Zoo participates in the Department for Communities' JobStart Scheme which is designed to allow unemployed 50 to 64-year-olds a chance to gain skills and experience in the workplace. It also runs a number of apprenticeship programmes — it is understood the person involved was participating in one of these initiatives.
Belfast Telegraph
11-07-2025
- Politics
- Belfast Telegraph
Kneecap effigies and Irish language signage appear on controversial Village bonfire
Figures appearing to be dressed in the style of rappers Moghlaí Bap, DJ Próvaí and Mo Chara have appeared on the pyre in the Village area. Belfast City Council 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 is set to proceed after the PSNI deemed it too dangerous to intervene. As well as the effigies, the bonfire contains 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 reading 'SDLP and Alliance do not represent our community'. It comes after a poster featuring the west Belfast rappers along with a number of sectarian slogans was attached to an Eleventh Night bonfire in Co Tyrone. The banner, which has a photograph of the west Belfast band as its backdrop has been cable tied to the pallets used to construct the bonfire in the Dungannon area. It features 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 has been placed on top of a bonfire alongside two Palestinian flags. A posted reading 'F**k Kneecap and Palestine' has been fixed to the structure along with another notice reading 'Stop the Boats. Deport Illegals. Stop the Invasion'. Earlier this afternoon, MP Paul Maskey described similar sectarian displays on a bonfire in west Belfast as 'sickening'. The offensive banners have 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'. Controversial 'migrant boat' bonfire is lit in Moygashel '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.' We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. 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.' Further items, including a Palestinian flag and a notice reading 'Taigs out' have also been placed on a bonfire in the Waterside area of Londonderry, alongside a banner proclaiming solidarity between Ireland and Palestine. Meanwhile, a drone carrying an Irish tricolour has been spotted flying over the Shankill Road as the community prepare to light their bonfire. Footage on social media appeared to show the drone performing laps of the area.
Belfast Telegraph
11-07-2025
- Politics
- Belfast Telegraph
Kneecap effigies and Irish language signage appears on controversial Village bonfire
Figures appearing to be dressed in the style of rappers Moghlaí Bap, DJ Próvaí and Mo Chara have appeared on the pyre in the Village area. Belfast City Council 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 is set to proceed after the PSNI deemed it too dangerous to intervene. As well as the effigies, the bonfire contains 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'. Another sign reading 'SDLP and Alliance do not represent our community'. It comes after a poster featuring the west Belfast rappers along with a number of sectarian slogans was attached to an Eleventh Night bonfire in Co Tyrone. The banner, which has a photograph of the west Belfast band as its backdrop has been cable tied to the pallets used to construct the bonfire in the Dungannon area. It features 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 has been placed on top of a bonfire alongside two Palestinian flags. A posted reading 'F**k Kneecap and Palestine' has been fixed to the structure along with another notice reading 'Stop the Boats. Deport Illegals. Stop the Invasion'. Earlier this afternoon, MP Paul Maskey described similar sectarian displays on a bonfire in west Belfast as 'sickening'. The offensive banners have 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'. Controversial 'migrant boat' bonfire is lit in Moygashel '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.' We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. 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.' Further items, including a Palestinian flag and a notice reading 'Taigs out' have also been placed on a bonfire in the Waterside area of Londonderry, alongside a banner proclaiming solidarity between Ireland and Palestine. Meanwhile, a drone carrying an Irish tricolour has been spotted flying over the Shankill Road as the community prepare to light their bonfire. Footage on social media appeared to show the drone performing laps of the area.
