Effigies of the Irish rap group Kneecap, Irish flags and sectarian slogans are topping loyalist bonfires across Northern Ireland ahead of the traditional Twelfth of July celebrations. The controversial displays come just one night after effigies of migrants in a boat were burned on a bonfire in Moygashel, County Tyrone, despite widespread condemnation.
Stormont Environment Minister Andrew Muir has urged that a contentious loyalist bonfire off the Donegall Road in south Belfast should not be lit due to serious safety concerns. The bonfire sits on a site containing asbestos and is dangerously close to an electricity sub-station that powers two major hospitals in the city.
Asbestos found at bonfire site
The Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) confirmed late on Thursday that suspected asbestos had been discovered at five locations on the bonfire site. Approximately 20kg of hazardous material was immediately removed from the area.
Muir, an Alliance Party MLA, pleaded with anyone planning to attend the fire to "exercise caution". He told the BBC that whilst he respects the importance of the 11th and 12th of July celebrations, people should not light this particular bonfire.
Kneecap effigies appear on bonfires
Elsewhere across Northern Ireland, posters depicting the Irish rap group Kneecap, Irish flags and Palestinian flags appeared on other bonfires on Friday evening. Effigies of the band members have been placed on a bonfire at Roden Street in south Belfast, alongside a sign written in the Irish language.
A bonfire in Eastvale Avenue in Dungannon, County Tyrone, features the group on a poster with the wording "Kill Your Local Kneecap". This appears to be in response to a clip from a 2023 gig which seemed to show a member saying: "The only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP."
Medical experts warn of dangers
Dr Alan Stout, chairman of the British Medical Association Northern Ireland Council, urged people to stay away from the contaminated site. "If there's asbestos there, just don't go there," he told the BBC, explaining that in any other environment such as schools or hospitals, the area would be roped off and secured.
The NIEA stated that removing the asbestos would be "a highly specialised, complex and delicate operation" requiring the site to be fully vacated. The full removal process is expected to take several weeks, commencing on 16th July.
Political divisions emerge
The Grand Secretary of the Orange Order Rev Mervyn Gibson encouraged people to "go and enjoy themselves" at the bonfire, describing the council committee vote to remove it as a "political decision". He claimed the council had initially voted for the bonfire to proceed before Sinn Féin, Alliance and the SDLP voted against it.
Sinn Féin MLA Pat Sheehan accused the DUP of "political cowardice" for failing to provide leadership on the issue. He described the situation as living in "some sort of crazy parallel universe" where an illegal bonfire would be lit on a contaminated site beside a power substation serving Belfast's main hospitals.
Traditional celebrations continue
Hundreds of bonfires will be lit on Friday night ahead of the Orange Order's July 12th parades on Saturday. The traditional fires mark the main date in the parading calendar of Protestant loyal orders, commemorating the Twelfth of July.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) confirmed they would not agree to Belfast City Council's request to remove the Donegall Road bonfire. A small number of bonfires were already lit on Thursday night, including the controversial pyre in Moygashel which featured effigies of migrants in a boat with life-sized mannequins wearing life jackets and placards reading "Stop the boats" and "Veterans before refugees".
The PSNI said they were investigating a hate incident in relation to the Moygashel bonfire, which had been widely criticised by political representatives and church leaders.
(PA) Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
