Hundreds of bonfires have been lit across Northern Ireland to begin celebrations of the Twelfth of July, the main date in the Protestant loyal order parading season.
Crowds gathered as the towering pyres were set alight in loyalist areas, with the largest “Eleventh Night” bonfire at the Craigyhill estate in Larne, Co Antrim.
But before the fires were lit, police said that they were investigating multiple reports of flags, effigies and election posters being placed on bonfires.
Hundreds of people watched on as the Craigyhill bonfire was lit at midnight with organisers confident that they had broken the world record for the tallest bonfire, after the pyre was measured at 202.3ft.
Nearby houses had their windows boarded up and the fire service hosed down properties to protect against the heat of the massive bonfire.
The build-up to the “Eleventh Night” celebrations was overshadowed by the death of a bonfire builder in Co Antrim on Saturday night.
John Steele, a window cleaner who was aged in his mid-30s, was killed when he fell from a separate bonfire in Larne that stood more than 50 feet tall.
In total more than 250 bonfires were constructed in loyalist neighbourhoods across Northern Ireland.
The fires are traditionally ignited on the eve of the “Twelfth of July” – a day when members of Protestant loyal orders parade to commemorate the Battle of Boyne in 1690.
The battle, which unfolded at the Boyne river north of Dublin, saw Protestant King William of Orange defeat Catholic King James II to secure a Protestant line of succession to the British Crown.
Most of the bonfires pass off every year without incident, but a number continue to be the source of controversy.
This year there have been a number of complaints from nationalist and cross-community politicians about their images being placed on the fires.
The SDLP’s Paul Doherty condemned those behind putting his election poster on a bonfire in west Belfast.
He said: “While I respect everyone’s right to celebrate their culture in their own way, we regularly see posters of nationalist representatives and hate speech on these bonfires and we need leaders in the unionist community to call it out and put a stop to it once and for all.
“I have also heard concerns about the building of this bonfire so close to the local community centre and would ask those taking part to ensure that this bonfire passes off as safely as possible with no damage caused to the local community or surrounding areas.”
Unfortunately there has been a deafening silence from many unionist politicians in the face of this kind of sectarian intimidation— Gerry Carroll
People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll said his election posters were also placed on the bonfire.
He said: “Unfortunately there has been a deafening silence from many unionist politicians in the face of this kind of sectarian intimidation.
“It is time for leadership, and to demand an end to this provocation.”
Alliance Party MLA Stewart Dickson tweeted: “Saddened to see once again Alliance and other party election posters together with flags ranging from the EU to the Vatican and the Republic of Ireland on bonfires in East Antrim.”
The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) tweeted: “The Police Service has received a number of complaints relating to flags, effigies, election posters and other emblems being placed on bonfires.
“We are gathering evidence in respect of these complaints and will review to establish whether offences have been committed.”
Another fire lit at midnight was at Adam Street in the loyalist Tigers Bay area of north Belfast. Nationalist residents from the nearby New Lodge estate have previously claimed the fire is located too close to the interface between the two communities – something the bonfire builders have denied.
The PSNI are planning for the Twelfth to be their busiest and most resource-intensive day of the year, with the Eleventh Night being second.
There will be 2,500 police officers on duty on the Twelfth, which is around a third of the strength of the PSNI.
There will be 573 loyal order parades later. Of these, 33 follow routes that are deemed to be sensitive.
