Placing of items on Derry bonfires treated as ‘sectarian hate crimes’
Police have said they are treating several incidents of items being placed on bonfires in Derry as “sectarian-motivated hate crimes”.
A senior officer said flags, poppy wreaths, banners, political material, sashes and football shirts were among the items placed on the pyres.
Sinn Féin has condemned the burning of images of First Minister Michelle O’Neill in one of the fires.
The party’s North Belfast MP John Finucane described the actions as “anti-democratic and anti-republican”.
Bonfires are traditionally lit in nationalist areas of Derry on August 15th.
The fires are associated with the August anniversary of the introduction of internment without trial during the Troubles, and also coincide with the Catholic Feast of the Assumption.
Several bonfires were lit in the city on Saturday evening.
Department for Infrastructure staff had previously...
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