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Sinn Féin has strongly spoken out against the recent burning of images of First Minister Michelle O’Neill on a bonfire in Londonderry. John Finucane, the Member of Parliament for North Belfast, described these bonfires as “anti-democratic” and said that their hatred-fueled sectarian nature runs contrary to the principles of Irish republicanism.
On Saturday night, a bonfire was ignited beside a road after nearly 500 pallets had been removed from the site during the preceding week. The bonfire featured photos of Michelle O’Neill, alongside various flags including union jacks, Israeli flags, and banners related to the Parachute Regiment, the Somme Remembrance, and Northern Ireland. The pallets were positioned near the base of the Lecky Road flyover and set alight just before 11:00 pm BST. Additional bonfires in the Creggan and Top of the Hill neighborhoods also displayed flags and effigies before being lit. Fireworks were launched shortly before the Lecky Road bonfire was started, attracting a large audience, while police monitored the event from the city walls looking over the Bogside area.
The tradition of lighting bonfires on August 15th is customary in some nationalist communities in Northern Ireland. However, efforts were made in recent days to prevent potential dangers. The Department for Infrastructure, with assistance from the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), removed approximately 500 pallets that had been stored illegally beneath the Lecky Road flyover. This removal was prompted by concerns over fire safety risks due to underground gas mains beneath the tarmac. The Department labeled the pallet storage as “illegal” and a significant hazard.
Following the removal, the Lecky Road was temporarily closed, as police reported that pallets were set on fire along the road. Later on Wednesday evening, the road was closed again after pallets and a mattress were ignited under the flyover, in addition to a motorbike being set ablaze. Police also confirmed that a petrol bomb had been thrown at officers in Bishop Street. On her visit to a Derry Féile event, First Minister O’Neill supported the pallet removal, stating it was “right and proper.” She praised those who took part in removing materials, emphasizing the community’s desire to see an end to these anti-social bonfires. Ahead of the weekend, politicians and church leaders called for calm. Although tensions briefly rose on Saturday night with sectarian taunts exchanged between rival groups and a small number of missiles thrown, police intervened and moved about 30 individuals away from part of the city walls to restore order
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