LAST UPDATE | 12 Jul
ELECTION POSTERS BELONGING to nationalist politicians and threats against Catholics were erected on loyalist bonfires which were set alight last night ahead of The Twelfth.
A bonfire in the Village in south Belfast included “ATAT”, which is understood to mean “All taigs are targets”.
Ireland and Palestine flags also topped the bonfire, alongside an election poster of Sinn Féin vice president and First Minister Michelle O’Neill and SDLP MP Claire Hanna.
It also targetted both the unionist newspaper The Belfast Telegraph and the nationalist The Irish News.
SDLP MLA Matthew O’Toole said the incident was “deeply dispiriting and unrepresentative of the decent people of the Village who want to enjoy the Twelfth”.
Deeply dispiriting and unrepresentative of the decent people of the Village who want to enjoy the 12th.
— Matthew O'Toole (@MatthewOToole2) July 11, 2024
There would be so much more goodwill around this holiday if there was enough leadership to celebrat without lurid expressions of hate. https://t.co/14T8zsVTRM
He added: “There would be so much more goodwill around this holiday if there was enough leadership to celebrate without lurid expressions of hate.”
A different bonfire in the Rathcoole area of Newtownabbey featured an effigy alongside a message directed to SDLP leader Colum Eastwood reading “your (sic) next”.
Derry MLA and party colleague Cara Hunter said it was “absolutely despicable behaviour” and added that “unionist leadership needs to come out strong against this nonsense and call it for what it is”.
Absolutely despicable behaviour.
— Cara Hunter MLA 🕊 (@CaraHunterSDLP) July 11, 2024
Unionist leadership needs to come out strong against this nonsense and call it for what it is.
Clearly these people don't know Colum, and he won't be deterred by this backwards sectarian hatred. Solidarity. pic.twitter.com/Mn7J0qUCYu
She added that Eastwood won’t be “deterred by this backwards sectarian hatred”.
The PSNI has said it is “investigating material” place on the bonfire in the Rathcoole area, which included the threat against Colum Eastwood.
A PSNI spokesperson added that this is “being treating as a hate crime”.
The spokesperson said the PSNI will “continue to engage with partners and those who have influence in the local community in order to prevent the commission of offences and keep people safe”.
Meanwhile, a bonfire lit on Wednesday night in Moygashel, near Dungannon in Co Tyrone, was topped by a car mocked up to look like a police vehicle.
Ulster Unionist Party leader Doug Beattie described it as “absolutely disgraceful”.
An Ireland flag and a banner reading Saoirse don Phalaistín, meaning Freedom for Palestine, was also placed on the bonfire.
Close to 300 bonfires were set alight last night, including one in Craigyhill in Larne that measures over 62 metres and is said to be the world’s largest bonfire.
While most of the bonfires pass off without incident, some continue to be the source of controversy.
Last year, the PSNI received 68 reported incidents, including 21 alleged hate crimes, involving the burning of election posters or effigies, and 47 alleged hate-related incidents, including the burning of flags.
The fires are traditionally ignited on the eve of 12 July before thousands of members of the Orange Order and accompanying marching bands take to the streets at 18 locations across Northern Ireland to commemorate the Battle of the Boyne in 1690.
At the battle at the Boyne river, King William of Orange defeated Catholic King James II to secure a Protestant line of succession to the British crown.
11-12 July are among the busiest days of the year for the PSNI, who are expecting to deploy 4,000 officers and staff, about two thirds of the force, in a public safety operation.
The cost of the policing operation is expected to be about £4.5 million (€5.35m).
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