Northern Ireland

Drugs supplier Macauley McKinney has previous profile and convictions

Macauley McKinney last year spoke on BBC Newsline to defend building a bonfire in a public car park
Macauley McKinney last year spoke on BBC Newsline to defend building a bonfire in a public car park Macauley McKinney last year spoke on BBC Newsline to defend building a bonfire in a public car park

MACAULEY McKinney came to prominence last year as spokesman for a group of loyalists building a huge Eleventh Night bonfire on Bloomfield Walkway in east Belfast.

The site on the Upper Newtownards Road was at the centre of controversy over Belfast City Council storing thousands of pallets for bonfire builders.

However, after the pallets were stolen the then 21-year-old, who four years previously had been on work placement with the Fire Service, was interviewed by BBC Newsline, telling its reporter how he and follow bonfire builders felt "let down" by the council.

It emerged at the time that McKinney had a conviction for stealing pallets, dating from 2015. He was also convicted in the same year of stealing wreaths from a republican memorial on the Falls Road. Belfast Magistrates Court heard how it was in “revenge” for a suspected attack on a loyalist memorial site.

While the adult bonfire builder appeared happy to be interviewed by the BBC, he was less enthused by the coverage he received in The Irish News, hurling online sectarian abuse at the paper's readers.

Macauley McKinney, left, in an image posted on Twitter in 2013
Macauley McKinney, left, in an image posted on Twitter in 2013 Macauley McKinney, left, in an image posted on Twitter in 2013

Responding to Facebook users commenting on the story about his previous convictions, he wrote: "Your nothing but a bunch of fenian keyboard freaks who all hide behind there phones if you've something to say come to the walkway."

The following day, however, he was more contrite, saying he regretted the remarks.

"I was extremely angry and frustrated by recent media coverage and the events surrounding our local bonfire," he posted on social media.

Earlier this year, at the site of of Eleventh Night bonfire at Cuan Place in east Belfast, he verbally abused two journalists from The Irish News.