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Belfast Live
Belfast Live
National
Niall Deeney

Derry: 'Disappointment' after Eleventh night bonfire lit early in possible attempt to 'destroy event'

Disappointment has been expressed after an Eleventh night bonfire was prematurely lit in the Newbuildings area, just outside Derry city, on Tuesday.

UUP councillor Ryan McCready said the bonfire celebrations had been intended as a "family fun day" and were "fairly well organised".

The pyre appeared to have been set ablaze prematurely on Tuesday evening.

Read more: SDLP member praises Orange Order for respect shown to Derry minor GAA team

Mr McCready said it is disappointing that the fire may have been lit early in an attempt to "destroy the event".

Speaking to Belfast Live, he said: "I don't agree with burning anybody's flags, efigies, placards or anything that identifies a group of people or individuals because I don't think that's what the origins of the bonfires is about. I think that's crept in around the Troubles era. I condemn it, and it shouldn't happen.

"That said, there's some really good examples of small, family sized bonfires with events leading up to the bonfires with bouncy castles and all the sort of family things you would get, a band parade. From my understanding in Newbuildings, that was their intention - a family fun day which was fairly well organised. I don't believe there was anything on the bonfire that was offensive."

He added: "At the very minimum in society, tolerance is a requirement. In this instance, if the case is that someone came to ignite the bonfire early to destroy the event, that is disappointing if that is the case. It shouldn't be that way. If you've nothing to contribute, then don't, but don't go out of your way to destroy someone else's celebration of culture."

The PSNI said it received no reports in relation to the premature lighting of the Newbuildings bonfire.

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