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Derry police investigate 'hate incident' after Soldier F placards burned on Bogside bonfire

British Soldier F faces charges over his role in the killings of two people on Bloody Sunday in 1972.

Londonderry bonfire Crowds gather at the bonfire in the Bogside area of Derry last night. Niall Carson / PA Images Niall Carson / PA Images / PA Images

POLICE IN DERRY are investigating after placards referring to ‘Soldier F’ were set alight on a bonfire in the Bogside area of the city last night. 

Soldier F, the former British soldier facing charges over his role in the killings of two people on Bloody Sunday in Derry in 1972, is due to appear in court in a few weeks’ time. 

The PSNI received a number of reports regarding “offensive material” on the bonfire in the Bogside, built to mark the Catholic Feast of the Assumption.

“As a police service we recognise the hurt and frustration that this can cause. The display of this material has been perceived as offensive and distasteful,” the PSNI said in a statement. 

“We are treating this as a hate incident and will continue to gather evidence as this evening continues. Where crimes have been committed and suspects identified they will be brought before the courts.”

Londonderry bonfire Emergency services cover nearby buildings in water. PA Wire / PA Images PA Wire / PA Images / PA Images

Last night’s events in the Bogside come after a flute band paraded close to the scene of Bloody Sunday with a Parachute Regiment symbol and the letter “F” on the sleeves of their uniforms on Sunday. 

The Antrim-based Apprentice Boys band were escorted by police through the city on the march and police then made efforts to identify members of the band involved.

On Tuesday, the PSNI met with political representatives in two separate meetings to discuss Saturday’s parade. The meetings were described as “robust and constructive”. 

“We explained what police did and why. We also listened carefully to all the strong concerns that have been raised about how we carried out our actions,” PSNI Deputy Chief Constable Stephen Martin said. 

The meetings came after bricks and bottles were thrown at police during disturbances in the Bogside area of Derry on Monday night. 

24 petrol bombs and six paint bombs were also thrown in the streets and that police patrols came under attack from youths throwing missiles including bricks and bottles, according to the PSNI.

Between 30 and 40 people were involved in the disturbances which lasted from early evening into the night.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Battle of the Bogside, a three-day riot in the city which saw the people of the Bogside area erect barricades to prevent the Royal Ulster Constabulary entering.

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    Mute Gerard Casserly
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    Dec 25th 2019, 11:10 AM

    When life gives you lemons.
    Vote them out.

    225
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    Mute Brendan Cooney
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    Dec 25th 2019, 11:55 AM

    @Gerard Casserly: No, you make lemonade. Or slice them for a G&T. ;-)

    25
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    Mute TM B
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    Dec 25th 2019, 11:23 AM

    It’s Christmas Day gives a break from millionaire politicians

    182
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    Mute alan
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    Dec 25th 2019, 12:31 PM

    @TM B: recommends baking at home during worst homeless crisis. Jesus wept. Would have been better to have avoided this by talking about his record on climate change. Admittedly a shorter article but I don’t think anybody would mind that

    39
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    Mute Ronan Fahy
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    Dec 25th 2019, 1:05 PM

    @alan: so because some people are homeless we should avoid all mention of homes. Give it an rest will you. At that rate we shouldn’t mention loved ones because some dont have them. We shouldn’t mention working hard at your job because some are unemployed. We shouldn’t mention having fun because some are depressed.

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    Mute Kev
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    Dec 25th 2019, 11:25 AM

    €121,000,000 Already spent on carbon credits because Fine Gael don’t care about the environment.. so no, I don’t care what type or oranges the minister bought

    94
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    Mute Rob Porter
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    Dec 25th 2019, 12:44 PM

    @Kev: CO2 is essential for all life on Earth. As a result of anthropogenic sources and the increase in atmospheric CO2, the earth is greening with vegetation flourishing in arid conditions throughout the world.

    It is the scam of the millennium by the banksters and globalists to have commodified a load of hot air.

    The scam is masterful when the only pubic grievance is not that the entire operation is an epic fraud but rather that we are not operating within the parameters and complying sufficiently within the scam they have set for us.

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    Mute John Kennedy
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    Dec 25th 2019, 1:06 PM

    @Kev: You have to wonder what turkey (pun intended) signed us up for that, and who exactly did we make the cheque payable to?, and did we get a nice shiny certificate to hang on the wall

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    Mute Kev
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    Dec 25th 2019, 2:30 PM

    @John Kennedy: the world John, the world signed up for that at 3 separate summits overs the past 3 decades. Dope

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    Mute John Kennedy
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    Dec 25th 2019, 2:35 PM

    @Kev: given you expertise in this area can you answer the questions I posed?.

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    Mute SteoG
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    Dec 25th 2019, 5:10 PM

    @Rob Porter: You were told before. Assertions without evidence are dismissed without evidence. Your silly childish assertions are dismissed.

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    Mute SteoG
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    Dec 25th 2019, 5:11 PM

    @John Kennedy: I see you are still struggling with the facts John. Not something that you can be proud of.

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    Mute Rob Porter
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    Dec 25th 2019, 7:27 PM

    @SteoG: lol

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    Mute John Kennedy
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    Dec 25th 2019, 7:52 PM

    @SteoG: what facts would they be?, can you answer my questions

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    Mute SteoG
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    Dec 25th 2019, 8:33 PM

    @Rob Porter: You obviously laugh at your own stupidity. Though it is amusing that you do not realise that.

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    Mute SteoG
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    Dec 25th 2019, 8:43 PM

    @John Kennedy: The established scientific facts. You know the facts established over a century ago. The facts you ignored when you search for denier rubbish. The facts that no one has challenged with any scientific evidence.
    What has your questions to do with anything? Why would I want to waste my time on them when you have already made up your own mind with fallacy and pseudo science.
    By the way after further investigation I withdraw my opinions of Heller. He is a clown. He is into chemtrails conspiracies and other conspiracy nonsense.

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    Mute Rob Porter
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    Dec 25th 2019, 8:58 PM

    @SteoG: Steo

    Happy Christmas

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    Mute John Kennedy
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    Dec 25th 2019, 10:24 PM

    @SteoG: as I thought, long on mouth, short on answers, can you answer the questions I posed, who signed us up to pay 121 million, who did we pay it to, did we get a receipt, and if we did, from whom?

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    Mute Gerard Casserly
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    Dec 30th 2019, 9:53 PM

    @Kev: We are the dopes. How stupid we will look in generations to come. Emotional reactions. No facts. NON. Lowest point sending a mentally challenged young girl to cry and whinge about us taking her future away. What idiots we are.

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    Mute brian reid
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    Dec 25th 2019, 11:26 AM

    His second Christmas as Minister……he will be like the turkey…he won’t see next Christmas as minister

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    Mute Quentin Moriarty
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    Dec 25th 2019, 11:04 AM

    All fine and dandy if everyone started baking at home until factories start shutting down and jobs are lost .

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    Mute Kev
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    Dec 25th 2019, 11:34 AM

    @Quentin Moriarty: less cooking skills = more jobs is the funniest argument against basic life skills I’ve ever heard

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    Mute Derek Moran
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    Dec 25th 2019, 11:48 AM

    hey look! a politician that is suddenly interested in a popular concern of mainly young people. he must be cool.

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    Mute Eugene Comaskey
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    Dec 25th 2019, 2:30 PM

    Don’t give this tool one bit of heed, He is a blueshirt, and we all know what they stand for, – The BIG Farmers of Ireland and the Very Wealthy,- that is their concern. Bruton was reared on a huge farm around Dunboyne, educated in Clongoose, far removed from the ordinary peasants, and he is still far removed . Time to give them the road.

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    Mute Paul Mc
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    Dec 25th 2019, 12:12 PM

    Ffs can we not have a day without being reminded that these jokers are responsible for the current misery going on this country of ours ,spin ,spin and more spin.

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    Mute William Kelly
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    Dec 25th 2019, 1:10 PM

    Nimbyism par excellance, coming fom a family of beef barons.
    This Minister has not excelled at anything, despite numerous appointments, seems to be just sliddering along to a hefty pension.
    The best that can be said about his political career is that he had had no impact at all, so hopefully the environment will not be impacted negatively.

    29
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    Mute Liam Mernagh
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    Dec 25th 2019, 2:10 PM

    For a fellow who is steeped in agriculture to make a statement such as was attributed to him. There is very little hope for our country. Is he another bandwagon man??

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    Mute Padraic O Sullivan
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    Dec 25th 2019, 11:32 AM

    2021.
    Leo gone to a country with an underground. Noveney as Tanaiste. Dooda as Taoiseach.
    Cant wait.

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    Mute Declan Moran
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    Dec 25th 2019, 11:40 AM

    @Padraic O Sullivan: hey Padraic. Have you had your cherry trifle a bit earlier than usual ? :) :)

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    Mute Michael Nolan
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    Dec 25th 2019, 4:41 PM

    That the bloke that signed off on them dodge schools and flipped his post to dodge the flack..

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    Mute Peter Coen
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    Dec 25th 2019, 12:48 PM

    Dustin brutal.

    8
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    Mute John Quill
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    Dec 25th 2019, 1:47 PM

    He’s such a crusty like

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    Mute New World Order
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    Dec 25th 2019, 10:15 PM

    Hilarious a multi millionaire son of a cattle baron telling us how to live, but joke is kn him this time in a few weeks he is out of office so let’s hang on

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    Mute SandraMeyler
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    Dec 25th 2019, 6:47 PM

    Go away Bruton

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    Mute Mark Gough
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    Dec 25th 2019, 3:43 PM

    Is this idiot telling me how to plan for christmas. They couldn’t buy a printer, do broadband cheap, or build a hospital, and they are telling me how to buy.

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    Mute John Quill
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    Dec 25th 2019, 1:47 PM

    He’s such a crusty like

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    Mute Dublin Wings
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    Dec 25th 2019, 3:15 PM

    Ah Dicky, you aul spoofer !

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    Mute Eric Davies
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    Dec 27th 2019, 12:25 PM

    “i have become much more conscious of the bad habits that needlessly damage our environment ” says the minister WHO ATTENDED A CLIMATE CONTROL MEETING IN NEW YORK IN SEPTEMBER ” ever hear of video conferencing there minister ? how much ‘carbon footprint’ did that meeting leave then ?

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    Mute Eric Davies
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    Dec 27th 2019, 12:26 PM

    richard by name – dick by nature !

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    Mute Eric Davies
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    Dec 27th 2019, 12:19 PM

    he’d be the biggest turkey at the table !

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