https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2kgpnr2dlo
The display on a bonfire in Moygashel has been condemned by politicians and church leaders
Published 10 July 2025
A contentious bonfire in County Tyrone, with an effigy of refugees in a boat on top of it, has been lit.
The model of a small boat with several figures inside on top of a banner is being investigated as a hate incident by police and received widespread condemnation from politicians and church leaders.
The bonfire, in Moygashel, was lit on Thursday night.
Police said they "have received a number of reports regarding the bonfire in Moygashel and the material that has been placed upon it".
Police said received a number of reports regarding the bonfire in Moygashel and the material that has been placed upon it
The PSNI statement added: "Police are here to help those who are or who feel vulnerable, to keep people safe.
"We do this by working with local communities, partners, elected representatives and other stakeholders to deliver local solutions to local problems, building confidence in policing and supporting a safe environment for people to live, work, visit and invest in Northern Ireland, but we can only do so within the legislative framework that exists."
Earlier, Church of Ireland Archbishop John McDowell said it was "racist, threatening and offensive… it certainly has nothing whatsoever to do with Christianity or with Protestant culture and is in fact inhuman and deeply sub-Christian."
Bonfires are lit annually in some unionist areas across Northern Ireland in July to usher in the Twelfth of July, the main date in the parading season.
The majority are lit on the Eleventh night.
The Twelfth commemorates the Battle of the Boyne in 1690 when the Protestant King William III defeated Catholic King James II.
"I hope that the many people from other countries, who live in that area, and who contribute so much to the economy and to the diversity of Dungannon, can be reassured that it does not in any way represent the feeling of the vast majority of their neighbours," added the archbishop.
The bonfire was lit on Thursday at about 22:45
Dr David Clements, senior Methodist minister, has told BBC Radio Ulster's Evening Extra programme that the effigy should be removed from the top of a bonfire in County Tyrone before it set alight.
Moygashel Bonfire Committee has said that the bonfire "topper" should not be seen as "racist, threatening or offensive" and it is "expressing our disgust at the ongoing crisis that is illegal immigration".
The bonfire in Moygashel was lit on Thursday night
In a general statement about this weekend's bonfires and parades, Chief Constable Jon Boutcher said he wanted to "speak directly to communities about the importance of ensuring these events are safe, respectful, and inclusive for everyone".
He said the celebrations were a "valued part of Northern Ireland's local history and culture, and I recognise the deep sense of identity these events represent for many people".
"It is vital that in marking these events, we do so in a way that respects the backgrounds and cultures of everyone who share these neighbourhoods. Mutual respect is the foundation of strong, safe communities.
"There is no place for hate or intimidation—only space for celebration that welcomes and celebrates not divides."
He said officers would be on the ground over the weekend at events across Northern Ireland to "ensure the "safety and wellbeing of everyone".
by BoogersHere1690
33 comments
What exactly is there to investigate?
Can someone tell me what boats are arriving in landlocked Tyrone?
Oh so it’s not a hate crime when they put Irish flags up there? Government cares more about migrants than their own people
Loyalist “culture.” Jon Boutcher’s a criminal enabler. Senior commander in the shooting of [Charles de Menezes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Charles_de_Menezes) as well.
Like toddlers smearing shit on their own faces for attention.
So lit
Embarrassed to share an island with people like this
Does anyone actually believe the PSNI for a second. “We will do fuck all in stopping the hate crime, but best believe we will investigate really hard afterwards”
Isn’t it funny how words just mean nothing anymore?
You can literally do the most hateful, evil fucking shit these days, but as long as you have a nice eloquent statement ready, even if its full of blatant fucking lies for everyone to see, then you’re all good.
“Inclusive for everyone” my mates and I from Dublin will go up so sounds like some craic … 🙄
I’m pretty sure they cannot be everywhere. Remember they are well under strength, under resourced never mind under paid for what they have to do, and been so for a long time. Naomi needs to get a grip and fight her corner. Granted things are fiscally tight but aside the Chief Constable, doing his best in an impossible situation, the silence is deafening.
It’s a shame that the Police can’t be this bothered about grooming gangs
These loyalist pricks really are getting on my tits.
Seeing as their ancestors would have come over on boats themselves to destroy and replace Irish ‘disloyal’ or ‘Papist’ culture with something more ‘desirable’, this is peak irony and hypocrisy.
Shame they’re unlikely to ever have that level of self-awareness.
This is embarrassing for all of us
It’s art, just like when kneecap do it. Art is subjective, not everyone will agree. Credit to the working class men and women who have used this bonfire to highlight a current issue and concern.
So they burned the colour orange and an effigy of people arriving here in boats, hmmmmm…
Pure irony. Even looked like orangemen in the boat.
Oh look, another exemption to the megathread. What a surprise
This sub is unusable in July ffs
PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boutcher said officers will be on the ground in areas where bonfires are being lit this weekend “working in partnership with community leaders”…
*POSITIVE COMMUNITY INTERACTION*
PSNI: Don’t do that thing.
Unionists/Loyalists: Aye we will, so we will.
PSNI: OK, thanks for your cooperation.
Swings and roundabouts. This year they cut down on the sectarian shite to make way for racist shite. I honestly don’t know whether that counts as progress or not. Maybe when the current crop mouthbreathers all die (of asbestiosis, perhaps) then it’ll just be a normal bonfire with (at worst) a relatively non-contentious and safely historically distant effigy of King James II or someone on it.
Stop the Stenaline! Down with the Seacat!
https://preview.redd.it/k4injenz28cf1.jpeg?width=767&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8b1cf09935866173449c7d82008d7fb29cb0f7a2
Some mighty fine police work as always in this country. Place is a joke and it’s clear yet again it’s the paramilitaries have a very strong hand on when and how rules apply. Any other country they would have been rounded up years ago but not here sadly.
“We, uh, _they_ did nothing wrong with the effigy and the case is now closed” – likely PSNI statement absolving their extended family members and themselves of all guilt.
Should not be seen as racist or offensive? What fucking planet do these people live on
Well everybody wanted rid of it and now the Loyalists are getting rid of it the only way they know how
Another hateful bonfire. Every single time.
Whats to investigate this Kulchur is literally just based in hating,
This seems worse than those tweets, right?
Oooooo an investigation, scary stuff.
What a group of fucking scumbags. What a fucking country. Inbred cunts
Bunch of warped bastards and so is anyone defending it.
There a multiple hate crimes every year on the twelfth. This is not different to burning an effigy of Michelle O’Neill, or writing KAT.
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