A North Belfast bonfire has been described by the Chief Constable as the “most contentious” in Northern Ireland.
Simon Byrne made the comments to the Northern Ireland Policing Board regarding the pyre at Adam Street in the Tiger's Bay area.
The bonfire is located on land belonging to a number of Stormont departments. Belfast Live understands the bonfire has been one part of ongoing talks involving a Stormont Ministerial Oversight Group or MOG, whose members include the Ministers for Infrastructure, Communities and Justice, and the PSNI.
The MOG was created after the 2020 bonfire season “to ensure that all public land owners/responsible authorities have a shared understanding of accountability, policy, operational, and reporting procedures in relation to bonfire management”, the Department of Justice told Belfast Live.
They added: “Relevant Ministers (from the signatory departments) have met on a number of occasions since the start of this year, along with the Chief Constable or relevant PSNI representative, to discuss the ongoing operation of the Memorandum of Understanding.
“The Minister for Education was invited to provide updates on Youth Diversionary Programmes which were provided through an official, whilst relevant Council officials and the Housing Executive have also been invited to speak to any relevant issues falling within their remit as landowners or statutory partners.”
The DoJ declined to comment when asked if the issue of the Adam Street bonfire was discussed at the latest MOG meeting.
Thursday’s Policing Board meeting was told there are two or three loyalist bonfire sites “of concern” across Northern Ireland.
PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Alan Todd said that is in the context of around 250 pyres being built at sites across Northern Ireland ahead of the annual July 12 commemorations.
During the meeting, Sinn Fein MLA Gerry Kelly raised the issue of the Adam Street pyre being built close to the peace line at Duncairn Gardens, between the New Lodge and Tiger’s Bay areas.
He claimed it has been used as a platform to throw golf balls from the loyalist side of the divide towards homes on the nationalist side, in some cases breaking windows or damaging cars. DUP rep’s in the area have said attacks have been launched towards the Tiger’s Bay side as well.
Gerry Kelly added: “The problem with this one is very specific - it has been shifted in the last couple of years to the interface to have an effect not on Tiger’s Bay but on the New Lodge, and it is having an effect there.”
Mr Kelly pressed Mr Byrne on what police will do to stop the bonfire going ahead in its present location.
Mr Byrne said that site is the “most contentious” of the bonfire issues this year.
“We continue to work with the ministerial departments that have ownership of the land, which is the first point of resolution to this,” he said.
“We’re just here to facilitate any removal of the bonfire by contractors, not to get involved with doing it ourselves.”
Mr Todd added: “The work around community resolution to this has continued up until as recently as yesterday, and I’ll be getting a readout from those meetings and talking to my own team and our partners today and the rest of this week as we plan for what may or may not be required ... but at this stage I wouldn’t want to comment any further.”
He said it is important to note the context there are two-three sites of concern out of more than 250 bonfires.
Meanwhile, Sinn Fein MLA Colm Gildernew said he has written to Health Minister Robin Swann asking that he requests the PSNI remove the bonfire close to the fire station in Newtownards.
“The erection of a bonfire extremely close to a fire station in Newtownards is deeply concerning,” he said.
“The 11th of July is the busiest night of the year for our fire service and this bonfire which could impede on their work and capacity to fulfil their duty to protect citizens is not only totally reckless, but outright dangerous.”
The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service said plans are in place to ensure emergency cover is maintained within the Newtownards area and across the service.
“We will continue to monitor the situation closely,” a spokesperson added.
A spokesman for Ards and North Down Council said the authority is aware of the bonfire on land which is does not own.
He added that there has been a bonfire in that location for a “number of years” and the council has been encouraging the builder to reduce its size.
In Co Tyrone last month a group of bonfire-builders offered residents “thermal protection” for their homes.
Moygashel Bonfire Association (MBA), which is constructing a huge bonfire on waste ground near a housing estate in the village outside Dungannon, said “customised thermal deflectors” will be fitted on windows by qualified tradesmen to protect against heat damage.
