Sinn Féin condemn burning of images of first minister on Derry bonfire

Sinn Féin has condemned the burning of images of First Minister Michelle O'Neill on a bonfire in Londonderry as "anti-democratic" and "sectarian".

On Saturday, a bonfire, from which almost 500 pallets were removed during the week, was set on fire beside a road in the Bogside area.

Photos of O'Neill, as well as union jacks, Israeli flags, Parachute Regiment, Somme Remembrance and Northern Ireland flags were attached to the bonfire.

Police are treating the burning of the effigies and materials as sectarian-motivated hate crimes.

In a post on social media, O'Neill said she would "not be deterred, distracted or intimidated".

"I will continue to call out sectarianism, anti-community activity and destruction wherever it comes from.

"These bonfires are a blight on our community," she said.

North Belfast MP John Finucane said these bonfires were "hate filled sectarianism" and "the very antithesis of Irish republicanism".

Youths placed pallets near the bottom of the Lecky Road flyover and set fire to it just before 23:00 BST.

Two other bonfires in the Creggan and Top of the Hill areas of the city also had flags and effigies placed on them before being set slight.

Fireworks were let off at 22:45 before the bonfire at the Lecky Road was started.

A large crowd gathered to watch the bonfire, while police observed from the city walls overlooking the Bogside.

Bonfires on 15 August are traditional in some nationalist parts of Northern Ireland.

In a statement, Finucane said the bonfires "disgracefully imitate the most offensive aspects of loyalist bonfires in their sectarianism, their criminality and recklessness".

"The small number of young people and children involved, often manipulated by others who stand in the shadows, are not representative of the majority of young people who are engaged in positive and productive cultural activities all year round."

He added: "At the Fleadh and Féile in Belfast and in the Derry Féile we see the future of this island in the positive and inclusive celebration of Irish culture and identity.

"The isolated events in Derry last night are the opposite and can have no part in that future."

DUP MP Gregory Campbell said this bonfire has a "recent history of provocative behaviour".

"There has to be total condemnation of this and hopefully action taken within the community and by the police to try and bring those responsible to justice," he said.

"Whatever symbols of hate on bonfires, whether they're on the 11 July or 15 August, they're wrong and they shouldn't be done.

"The police and the politicians need to ensure that these actions are nipped in the bud because this will go on year on year until there is very serious injury or worse even death."

Alliance MLA Peter McReynolds said he was "completely horrified and disgusted at the bonfires".

"These bonfires and the hatred and sectarianism don't represent the people of Derry."

He described the amount of young people taking part in the building of the bonfires is "disgraceful".

"We see this year on year, young people being manipulated by people who should know better into taking part in acts that will potentially ruin their futures."

Almost 500 pallets had been removed from underneath the Lecky Road flyover where they were being stored last week by the Department for Infrastructure with protection provided by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI).

There were later some minor disturbances which police suggested may be linked in part to the removal of the pallets.

A Department for Infrastructure spokesperson said the "illegal storage" of the pallets under the flyover posed a "significant fire safety risk" as there were gas mains under the tarmac.

The Lecky Road was closed for a time following the initial removal of the materials, with police saying some items had been set on fire on the road.

It closed again later on Wednesday night when police said pallets and a mattress were set alight on the flyover, while a motorbike was also seen to be on fire. A petrol bomb had also been thrown at police officers in Bishop Street.

First Minister O'Neill said it was "right and proper" to remove the material.

Speaking on a visit to a Derry Féile on Wednesday, she welcomed the removal of the pallets.

For a brief period on Saturday night, rival groups taunted one another with sectarian abuse.

A small number of missiles were thrown by both sides.

The police then moved about 30 people away from a section of the city's walls.

PSNI Area Commander of Derry City and Strabane, Ch Supt Gillian Kearney said material placed on a number of bonfires in Derry "included flags, poppy wreaths, banners, political material, sashes, football shirts and other items".