Londonderry: Residents warn of injury ahead of bonfire

The site of a bonfire in Derry's Galliagh area, which some residents have raised concerns about

Some residents in Londonderry have said they fear someone could be hurt if anti-social behaviour ahead of a bonfire continues.

For several months, young people in the city's Galliagh area have been collecting for a bonfire on 15 August.

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

In a statement, the police have said they are aware of the bonfire and "are in contact with relevant partners".

A spokesperson for the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said members of their local neighbourhood policing team will be in the area "to deal with any anti-social behaviour associated to this issue".

One local man told BBC Radio Foyle's The North West Today that many residents do not want it to be held at all.

"This goes on from March and ends at the end of August, September, when they all go back to school," he said.

Residents have complained of anti-social behaviour in the run-up to the 15 August bonfire

The man lives in the Galliagh Park area but does not want to be named for fear of retaliation.

'Constant noise'

"It isn't just the bonfire - it's the fireworks [which] go on morning and night, scramblers day and night," he said.

"It's just non-stop.

"On Friday, there were eight or nine bikes up and down the field and there were people congregating.

"People are actually dropping their kids off at the site and collecting them."

The resident added: "One of the things I found really, really shocking is that, in the midst of all that's happening, there were two local wakes. People had died and people were trying to grieve and it's just constant noise and fireworks.

"I'm not just speaking for myself - I'm speaking for my neighbours, because people have to work and get to sleep."

'Lost at this stage'

He called on the agencies responsible to step in.

"In all probability, it's going to go ahead this year. But what's going to happen next year and the year after that?

"People are trying to sell their houses - they can't sell because they know no one's going to want to buy a house here.

"There were people carrying knives and there were people attacked a couple of years ago," he added.

He expressed concern that young people building the bonfire are in danger of getting seriously hurt.

"We're just asking for some solution to be found," he said.

Real concern

In 2012 the removal of material at a bonfire site in Galliagh sparked three nights of riots.

The previous year, a senior priest in Derry, Fr Michael Canny, condemned bonfires across the city, including in the Galliagh area, as "a nuisance".

Earlier this month, it was announced that a controversial bonfire in the city's Bogside on 15 August could be cancelled and replaced with a music event.

Martin Connolly, a community worker in Galliagh, said he hoped young people in the area would take inspiration from that.

"For a while it was very quiet. The last few weeks things have been starting to ramp up," Mr Connolly said.

"There have been a number of vehicles burnt on the site. There have been nights where there have been fireworks going to all hours.

"There have been incidents of garden furniture being stolen from people's gardens and set on fire.

"We are now into 15 days before the bonfire takes places. So there's real concern at the minute."

Mr Connolly said that, despite a lack of funding, local groups have arranged initiatives for young people as an alternative focus over the summer months.

"On the night, they light a bonfire; two hours later, it's over and done with - it's not about that," he said.

"It's all the stuff that goes on prior to it and it's all the stuff that goes on after it for a number for hours in the middle of the night."

A spokesperson for the Department for Communities said "the department does not permit bonfire material being stored, or bonfires being located, on departmental land".

"The department also understands that the local community and residents in Galliagh are not supportive of any bonfire taking place and, therefore, any bonfire is clearly against the local community's wishes," the spokesperson added.

The statement said the department would take "all reasonable steps as far as possible to prevent or minimise the risk presented in relation to a bonfire taking place" and continue to consult with key stakeholders "on what is a very difficult, sensitive and challenging situation".