Northern Ireland

Sinn Féin condemns threats against people removing internment bonfire material

Youths wheel wooden pallets from the city centre to the nationalist New Lodge area
Youths wheel wooden pallets from the city centre to the nationalist New Lodge area Youths wheel wooden pallets from the city centre to the nationalist New Lodge area

SINN Féin has condemned threats against people who have helped to remove internment bonfire material in north Belfast.

Councillor JJ Magee said threats had been painted on a wall in the nationalist New Lodge area close to where material has been taken away in recent days.

It came as youths were yesterday spotted wheeling more wooden pallets from the city centre towards the area.

Mr Magee said the threats against workers are "completely unacceptable".

"These workers were acting on behalf of residents who do not want to see properties damaged or someone injured as a result of an illegal bonfire," he said.

"The bonfire material was dumped close to homes and a nursery unit. It was removed by council workers and I’d like to thank them for that."

Meanwhile, Sinn Féin has said flags "should not be used to mark out areas" after IRA flags were put up on lamp posts on nearby North Queen Street over the weekend.

Two flags featuring gunmen, an Easter lily and the words 'Irish Republican Army' and 'undefeated' were still visible on the busy route yesterday.

Sinn Féin said it believed just one flag had been erected and said "republicans had no involvement".

"Flags, or indeed on this occasion one solitary flag, should not be used to mark out areas."

The SDLP and Alliance also condemned the flags over the weekend.