First Minister Michelle O'Neill has voiced support for the clearance of bonfire materials from a site in the Bogside area of Londonderry, after pallets and other items were taken from Lecky Road on Wednesday morning by the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) with police officers present. The operation, which unfolded in the early hours, targeted material intended for a bonfire that had been due to be staged on Saturday night ahead of the traditional 15 August commemorations, according to Derry Now.
The Bogside bonfire has drawn large crowds in previous years but has also come under sustained criticism for the burning of poppy wreaths, unionist flags and other symbols.
What did the First Minister say?
Speaking to reporters in Derry on Wednesday during a visit to an Irish-language arts and cultural centre, O'Neill said she backed those responsible for taking away the pallets and other materials.
I commend those who have removed the pallets and everything else, all the material, because none of us wants to see these anti-social bonfires in our community.
We need to find ways to celebrate our culture or mark occasions, but don't do so in a way that endangers your community, that endangers the homes around you, and I think it was right and proper that this material was removed.
According to a report from a national broadcaster's coverage, O'Neill went further by stating there was no place for "illegal unregulated fires" or for the burning of flags and symbols, presenting the Derry situation as part of a wider pattern seen elsewhere in Northern Ireland. The same coverage noted that O'Neill tied the city's prospects to the £300 million Derry city deal, describing the city as "moving forward."
How did police respond?
The Police Service of Northern Ireland confirmed that officers attended Lecky Road on Wednesday morning, saying they were assisting in preventing a breach of the peace after being called in by the Department for Infrastructure to support the removal of the pallets.
Public safety is our priority, and the Police Service of Northern Ireland continues to work with our partner agencies, community representatives and landowners to address community safety issues relating to bonfires.
Separately, Derry Now reported that masked workers loaded pallets onto lorries from beneath the flyover on Lecky Road while officers looked on. We have approached the Department for Infrastructure for comment on the operation and have not yet received a response.
Why do bonfires burn in Derry every August?
Bonfires lit on 15 August are a long-standing tradition in a number of nationalist areas of Northern Ireland, marking the Feast of the Assumption, a Catholic holy day.
A bonfire previously held at nearby Meenan Square attracted large crowds of its own but generated controversy after a Union flag, a coronation flag bearing King Charles's image and an Israeli flag were burned there. At the Creggan bonfire in 2025, the names of a deceased child, a former senior detective who had been shot and seriously wounded, and a sitting MLA were also found displayed on the structure.
Redevelopment work began at Meenan Square in February of this year as part of an £11 million regeneration scheme. In May 2025, Apex Housing, which owns the site, said it had been unable to secure a contractor prepared to clear bonfire material from the land earmarked for the project, citing health and safety concerns, according to a national broadcaster's earlier report. That same report noted the site sits on private land owned by Apex Housing, with Derry and Strabane District Council stating it neither owns nor regulates bonfires there. The regeneration scheme, which will include a community hub along with retail and commercial space, means the bonfire can no longer be held at that location, prompting organisers to gather materials at a nearby site instead.
This controversy sits within a broader pattern of concern over bonfires across Northern Ireland this summer. Political leaders have already called for tighter safety measures around Eleventh Night bonfires following a fatal fall and house fires linked to the events. Separately, a replica mosque placed on top of a bonfire in Moygashel, County Tyrone, was set alight and is now the subject of a hate crime investigation, after Amnesty International and others had earlier urged police to act against what they described as incitement of anti-Muslim hatred. Anti-immigration banners and anti-Islamic graffiti have also appeared on bonfires and boarding in Belfast and Carrickfergus.
How has the community reacted?
Bogside Community Support, describing itself as a voluntary initiative aimed at restoring community spirit in the area, said in a social media statement that it was left "deeply disappointed" by the removal of the material.
After months of hard work engaging with local young people, reaching an agreement to have the bonfire in a safe space below the walls, returning stolen items and working to keep anti-social behaviour around the flyover to a minimum, we are deeply disappointed by the actions taken by the PSNI this morning.
In just a few hours, months of community engagement and progress have been put at risk.
The group appealed for calm following the operation. Notably, the Belfast Telegraph reported that past removals of bonfire material from the Bogside site had previously been achieved through community engagement rather than direct statutory intervention, marking a shift in approach with Wednesday's operation.
What happens next?
According to a national broadcaster's report, the Bogside bonfire remains scheduled for Friday evening, ahead of the wider 15 August commemorations across Derry. SDLP assembly member Mark H Durkan has called on those building bonfires in the Bogside and Creggan to remove any offensive material, including flags and emblems, before Friday evening arrives.
Key Facts
- Bonfire materials, including pallets, were removed from Lecky Road in the Bogside on Wednesday morning by the Department for Infrastructure with police present.
- First Minister Michelle O'Neill said it was "right and proper" that the material was taken away, warning against anti-social bonfires.
- The PSNI said officers attended to help prevent a breach of the peace following a call for support from the DfI.
- Bogside Community Support said it was "deeply disappointed," citing months of prior community engagement work.
- The Bogside bonfire remains scheduled for Friday evening, with SDLP's Mark H Durkan urging removal of any offensive symbols beforehand.
