Police have refused to help Belfast City Council remove a controversial loyalist bonfire that is set to be lit on Friday night. The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said the risk of leaving the towering pyre in place was "lower and more manageable" than attempting to dismantle it.
The council had requested police assistance to help contractors remove the bonfire on Meridi Street off the Donegall Road due to serious safety concerns. The site contains asbestos and sits dangerously close to an electricity substation that powers two hospitals.
Multi-agency meeting assesses risks
A PSNI spokesperson confirmed the decision followed "comprehensive engagement with all relevant stakeholders" and an evidence-based assessment of all risks. The force said it had carefully examined the legality, necessity and proportionality of police involvement in the council's proposed action.
On Wednesday evening, police chaired a multi-agency Tactical Coordination Group meeting to gain "shared situational awareness" of the actual risks. Representatives from the Northern Ireland Environment Agency, Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, Northern Ireland Electricity, Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service and Belfast City Council attended.
Consensus emerges against intervention
During the meeting, all partners considered the environmental risks from asbestos on the site and dangers related to the electricity substation. They also assessed risks to public safety on a site occupied by members of the public, including children.
The consensus was that allowing the bonfire to proceed as planned posed lower and more manageable risks than sending in contractors to dismantle it. The PSNI said it would continue working with partners and communities to manage the remaining risks surrounding the bonfire.
Traditional fires mark Orange celebrations
Around 300 bonfires are set to be lit across Thursday and Friday night ahead of the Orange Order's July 12 parades on Saturday. The traditional fires mark the main date in the parading calendar of Protestant loyal orders, known as the Twelfth of July.
While most bonfires pass off without incident, several become contentious due to flags, effigies and election posters being placed on the structures before they are ignited. Belfast City Council's committee had voted on Wednesday to send contractors to remove the Meridi Street bonfire.
(PA) Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
