Minister and MLA clash over north Belfast bonfire controversy

Q Radio News/PA

A Stormont minister who launched an unsuccessful legal bid to force police in Northern Ireland to assist in removing a loyalist bonfire has said she is disappointed that agreement could not be reached to move it to a less contentious site.

SDLP Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon said residents close to the bonfire at Tiger’s Bay in north Belfast had been “attacked and abused” over a number of months.

But a DUP MLA has said that the legal challenge should never have come to court and accused the two ministers who brought the action of “squandering public money”.

Ms Mallon and Sinn Fein Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey launched proceedings against the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) over its decision not to intervene on the bonfire in the loyalist area of Tiger’s Bay in north Belfast.

The police declined to offer protection to removal contractors, citing concerns that their intervention could lead to disorder.

The ministers’ bid to compel the police to act failed at emergency High Court proceedings on Friday.

The bonfire at Adam Street in north Belfast

DUP ministers had earlier questioned the authority of the ministers to take legal action against the PSNI without the approval of the wider Executive.

The bonfire is now set to be lit on Sunday night as part of traditional “Eleventh Night” events.

Nationalist residents claim they are living in fear and have been attacked by missiles thrown by loyalist bonfire builders.

Loyalists have rejected suggestions the siting of the bonfire was deliberately provocative and have accused nationalists and republicans of whipping up tensions in an effort to deny them what they view as a legitimate celebration of their culture.

Ms Mallon said: “Last night’s High Court ruling is, of course, a disappointing outcome following months of discussion to reach agreement on these issues to the benefit of local people.

“I reluctantly took the decision to challenge a police decision not to provide assistance after a long period of hard work and engagement aimed at securing a consensus on the way forward.

“I’m disappointed for the New Lodge and Duncairn residents who have been attacked, abused and suffered disruption for the last number of months as this bonfire has been constructed. Young children have experienced sectarian abuse, residents have had their homes pelted with golf balls and anti-social behaviour has been constant.”

Stormont minister Nichola Mallon

She added: “This bonfire, however, on Department for Infrastructure land and at an interface has caused a litany of well documented problems. I am deeply disappointed that we have not been able to secure a community resolution that could have seen the bonfire continue at another site. Instead of enhancing goodwill between our communities, it has been diminished.

“We all have a duty to be better neighbours to one another, unfortunately to date that has not been the experience on this occasion.”

But DUP MLA William Humphrey for north Belfast said: “We are very pleased and relieved at the ruling, it is a case that frankly shouldn’t have been taken in the first place. We are pleased that the judge dismissed the case.

“The ministers have squandered taxpayers’ money on the case and really what they would be better placed doing is working with the community in Tiger’s Bay in developing the site, because the site has sat for many years and neither department has shown any interest in developing it.”

Mr Humphrey added: “Tensions were deliberately raised this year by people who were saying we should dial down the rhetoric, yet those same people were the people who were working with solicitors in terms of putting together court cases.

“They were raising tensions and not giving proper responsible leadership to the community in north Belfast. The reality is the bonfire is smaller than it has been in previous years, it has been moved back, there is nothing offensive on the bonfire and it is a small, children’s bonfire.”

The Police Federation, which represents rank and file PSNI officers, said the court decision was good news because it meant police officers would not be “thrown into the middle”.