A banner bearing the name of murdered police officer Ronan Kerr and a threat to kill another person was removed from a controversial bonfire in Derry’s Bogside before it was lit after community workers intervened, it has emerged.
There was widespread criticism of the inclusion of the banner as well as poppy wreaths and a separate sign naming PSNI chief constable, Simon Byrne on the bonfire on Sunday night.
However, chairman of Derry and Strabane council’s bonfire committee, independent councillor Paul Gallagher said that the bonfire builders removed the offensive banner and wreaths following engagement with community workers in the Bogside.
The controversial bonfire, marking the Catholic August 15 Feast of the Assumption of Mary, also included British and Israeli flags as well as Parachute Regiment symbols. The bonfire is also associated with the anniversary of the introduction of internment on August 9.
Mr Gallagher said: “The young people who built the bonfire removed the banners and wreaths themselves after community workers pointed out how offensive they were. The community workers have been working very much behind the scenes and they engaged with the young people on Sunday.
“There has been a lot of condemnation of the bonfire by people who may not have been aware of this development. Young people engaged in dialogue and took the decision to remove the banners when it was pointed out to them and I think that is progress and augurs well for the future. I would ask those who are condemning them outright to take stock of that.”
Mr Gallagher said other indications of progress included the fact that no tyres were burned and that disruption was kept to a minimum in the days before the bonfire. Organisers didn’t start putting the structure together until Friday night.
SDLP assembly member, Mark H Durkan condemned the Ronan Kerr banner and the threat to kill a named individual.
“Regardless as to whether they were removed or not, they shouldn’t have been there in the first place. To make a mockery of a young police officer who was murdered is offensive.
“It goes without saying that it was unacceptable to threaten to kill anyone. It must be very distressing for the person named, his family and colleagues to see that. This does not reflect the view of the vast majority of people in Derry and the Bogside,” Mr Durkan said.
The inclusion of the banners and poppy wreaths on the bonfire was condemned by the SDLP, Sinn Féin, UUP and DUP. DUP leader, Sir Jeffrey Donaldson described the banner as a “hate crime”.
Chairman of the Police Federation, Mark Lindsay said the inclusion of the banners was designed to intimidate people. He said it was insulting to the vast majority of society.
“Society needs to realise that older more influential people are passing on their hatred and vile actions to impressionable children who are often seen helping at bonfire sites. Put simply, they are teaching children to hate which is particularly abhorrent and reprehensible,” Mr Lindsay said.
