A bonfire in the loyalist Tiger’s Bay area has caused controversy A bonfire in the loyalist Tiger’s Bay area has caused controversy Updated 1 hour ago
The police declined to offer protection to removal contractors, citing concerns that their intervention could lead to disorder.DUP ministers had earlier questioned the authority of the ministers to take legal action against the PSNI without the approval of the wider executive. While the majority pass off each year without incident, some remain the source of community tension, with authorities previously having intervened to remove towering pyres on health and safety grounds.
However, in order for BCC contractors to carry out the operation they needed protection from the PSNI. Following the court decisions today, PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Alan Todd said: “The Police Service of Northern Ireland has been working with a range of partners and stakeholders over a number of months to ensure a peaceful summer, and that will continue over the next number of days. We would urge those within local communities to remain calm during the coming days.
“Quite frankly any government minister shouldn’t have to take the PSNI to court to do their job,” she said.
You know in the republic where there are no sectarian overtones- the local county council dismantles the grouping of a bonfire pyre - why can’t the same be done in NI