Tiger's Bay bonfire: Dispute 'should not have involved police'

A row over a contentious loyalist bonfire should have been sorted months ago, the chairman of the Police Federation for NI has said.

Mark Lindsay said the failure of a legal bid to force police to assist in removing the bonfire was "the right decision".

He said for police "to be thrown into the middle" and "if you like, fighting with people" would not have been good.

On Friday, two Stormont ministers failed in the move at the High Court.

Mr Lindsay said the issue was about political failures.

Mark Lindsay welcomed a court decision not to involve police in the removal of a controversial bonfire

He said: "I am very disappointed that two of the [government] departments who should have had this issue sorted a year ago hadn't that done and, once again, we're trying to throw police into a crisis they hadn't sort out.

"It's really good news for our officers that they are not being thrown into the middle of what really is a horrendous situation for them."

He said in such situations, where tensions were high, there was always "that spectre of a ballistic threat".

He added that it was up to politicians and the local communities to sort out the issues well in advance and, if court action was required, it should have been done well in advance.

The bonfire in Adam Street is located in a unionist area, close to an interface with the nationalist New Lodge.

Mr Lindsay said: "There's been very hard won relationships built in both those areas and I think that for policing to be thrown into the middle and to actually come toe-to-toe, if you like, fighting with people from those communities is not good news for anybody.

"It's certainly not good news for policing and definitely not good news for those communities."

Last week, police said the bonfire was one of a small number in Northern Ireland causing concern.

However, they refused to help contractors remove the bonfire as they said doing so would risk disorder.

• Why are bonfires lit in Northern Ireland?

The legal action was taken by Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon of the SDLP and Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey of Sinn Féin.

It was dismissed on Friday night after a judge refused an earlier, similar case taken by a New Lodge resident to direct Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) officers to intervene at the Tiger's Bay site.

The Police Federation said it applauded the judge's decision.

'Remain calm'

After the failed legal bid, Assistant Chief Constable Alan Todd said the PSNI had been working "to ensure a peaceful summer and that will continue over the next number of days".

"We would urge those within local communities to remain calm," he added.

Some New Lodge residents say they feel threatened as a result of the bonfire

The infrastructure and communities ministers said they were disappointed by the court's decision.

Ms Hargey said it remained her view that the bonfire was "not appropriate at this interface location".

Ms Mallon said she was disappointed by the court ruling and added that she took the decision to take legal action over the bonfire "reluctantly".

She said: "I'm disappointed for the New Lodge and Duncairn residents who have been attacked, abused and suffered disruption for the last number of months as this bonfire has been constructed.

"Young children have experienced sectarian abuse, residents have had their homes pelted with golf balls and anti-social behaviour has been constant.

"The kind of behaviour we've seen over the last few weeks is totally unacceptable, wherever it comes from.

"People are entitled to celebrate their culture and traditions, and over the course of the next few days many will do so in a positive, affirming and respectful way that seeks to accommodate their neighbours. That is the standard everyone should expect."

'Suck it up'

North Belfast Sinn Féin MLA Carál Ní Chuilín said that everybody in New Lodge was disappointed with the outcome.

"The PSNI have just told people in the New Lodge to suck it up basically, and I don't think that's good enough," said Ms Ní Chuilín.

"I believe the PSNI and other statutory bodies have failed in their duty to residents in this area.

"No one is denying anyone a celebration of their culture, as long as it's done with respect."

William Humphry said houses have been built where the bonfire was previously situated

Meanwhile, William Humphry, DUP MLA for North Belfast, said the Tiger's Bay community was "pleased and relieved" with the court decision.

"It's a case that should never have been brought in the first place and a complete waste of taxpayers money," said Mr Humphry.

"We're coming up to the anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne, the glorious revolution, there is a tradition of bonfires being lit in the Protestant/unionist community going back to the glorious revolution - and that's what we're here to do, celebrate our culture.

"The bonfire is here because we've had houses built where it was previously situated."

'Risk of disorder'

Hundreds of Eleventh Night bonfires will be lit in loyalist communities across Northern Ireland over the weekend, most of them late on Sunday night, to usher in the main date in the Protestant loyal order parading season - the Twelfth of July.

Some, including the Edgarstown bonfire in Portadown, County Armagh, were lit on Friday night.

The road on Adam Street on which the Tiger's Bay bonfire has been built is owned by the Department for Infrastructure.

The department has sought and secured the assistance of Belfast City Council (BCC) to remove the pyre.

However, in order for council contractors to carry out the operation they need protection from the PSNI.

The police are refusing to do so, having made the assessment that an intervention would risk disorder, placing people, including children, congregating at the bonfire at risk.