Derry: Condemnation of poppies and flags on Bogside bonfire

There has been widespread condemnation of the placement of poppy wreaths and flags on a bonfire in Londonderry.

The bonfire at Meenan Square also displayed an image of a PSNI Land Rover and the Queen.

The DUP called it an "outrageous and offensive display of hate". Sinn Féin said it was "disgraceful".

Police say they are treating it as a hate crime. They are also investigating reports of possible shots being fired in the Bogside area on Monday evening.

Alliance deputy leader Stephen Farry said several incidents of "casual sectarianism" at the weekend showed Northern Ireland had not done enough to build reconciliation and integration.

Sectarianism is an issue that needed to be solved across all society, the Bishop of Derry told BBC Radio Ulster on Tuesday.

"We sit on a whole iceberg of sectarianism here that actually benefits power struggles that are going on," Donal McKeown said.

"Unless everyone looks at the sectarianism in their own hearts, we could end up condemning a small number and saying that it is all their fault.

"It's the responsibility of all of us to build a shared future."

Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney is among the politicians to have condemned the material on the bonfire

Bonfires on 15 August are traditional in some nationalist parts of Northern Ireland to mark the Catholic Feast of the Assumption.

To others, they are lit to commemorate the introduction of internment without trial of republican suspects, which was introduced by the government in 1971.

'Totally out of order'

Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney said the actions of a minority in Derry were "an insult" to all the hard work of volunteers, community workers and youth organisations in the area.

"Whether in July or August, this kind of hatred is so far from the future we should be trying to build," Mr Coveney said in a tweet.

SDLP leader and Foyle MP Colum Eastwood said the burning of posters and flags on the bonfire in the Bogside was "totally out of order".

"If you think the route to a united Ireland is burning your neighbour's cultural symbols we're not on the same side," he tweeted.

"If you actually want to achieve something get your head in gear and learn that we have to share this place. There is no other way."

DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson called it an "outrageous and offensive display of hate" which must be "universally rejected".

Sinn Féin's Gerry Kelly called it "disgraceful" and "deeply offensive".

"There is no place for these displays of hate anywhere in our society. It must stop now," he said.

"Displays of hate on bonfires are totally wrong and those responsible do not represent the people of Derry," the mayor for Derry City and Strabane District Council has said.

Sinn Féin's Sandra Duffy said the "real image" of Derry was on show when thousands flocked to the city for the Foyle Maritime Festival and the Foyle Cup last month.

'Reacting in kind'

DUP assembly member for Foyle Gary Middleton said the placement of wreaths was "disgraceful and utterly insulting to those who had fought and died for all of our freedoms".

"As a society we need to move away from blatant and intentional acts of disrespect and hurt," he added.

The bonfire also features an image of the Queen

The police say they are treating reports of material placed on the bonfire as a hate crime and are seeking to identify those responsible.

"The vast majority of people celebrate their culture peacefully and lawfully," Supt Willy Calderwood said.

He added that they do not want cultural celebrations "to be undermined by anti-social behaviour, criminal activity or hate directed towards others."

SDLP councillor John Boyle said it was "extremely disappointing" that the bonfire incident occurred just days after the sale of UVF and Parachute Regiment flags in Derry.

Thirteen people were shot dead in Derry in 1972 when members of the Army's Parachute Regiment opened fire on civil rights demonstrators - that day became known as Bloody Sunday.

Mr Boyle said he understand the flag issue would have hurt people, "reacting in kind serves nobody".

"People who wish to celebrate and commemorate elements of their culture and traditions should always aim to do so in a non-confrontational way without seeking to offend or upset anyone else," he said.

Alliance councillor Rachael Ferguson said it was "sad to see" the bonfire had once more "attracted disappointing, sectarian displays".

"I utterly condemn the placing of these items on this bonfire," she said.

"It also marks the latest in an incredibly horrendous few days of hatred and bigotry, including the selling of Parachute Regiment flags in this city."