New safety fears have emerged about asbestos at the site of a controversial loyalist bonfire in south Belfast, which is scheduled to be lit on Friday evening, reports Breaking News.
The Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) announced late Thursday that suspected asbestos was discovered in five different spots at the bonfire location, and 20kg of the material was taken away.
Meanwhile, criticism has intensified over a separate bonfire in Co Tyrone on Thursday that included a mannequin depiction of migrants in a boat, reports Breaking News.
The Belfast bonfire at Meridi Street, just off Donegall Road and close to a substation that provides power to two hospitals, has already drawn controversy.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said on Thursday it would not support Belfast City Council’s request to dismantle the bonfire structure.
The NIEA later confirmed it had conducted an inspection of the area, reports Breaking News.
A statement read: “The Northern Ireland Environment Agency can confirm that fragments of suspected asbestos were found at five locations around the site. Approximately 20 kilogrammes of suspect material was identified and was immediately removed,” reports Breaking News.
It continued: “The risk assessment that NIEA has provided to partners has consistently indicated that there was a strong possibility that fragments of asbestos could be elsewhere on the site. NIEA understand the landowner is due to arrange the removal of all of the asbestos from the site next week, commencing on 16 July 2025, but it is important to note that removing the asbestos will be a highly specialised, complex and delicate operation that will require the site to be fully vacated. Indeed, the work is of such complexity that the full removal will take a number of weeks,” reports Breaking News.
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SDLP councillor Seamas de Faoite told the BBC that “without proper decontamination of the site people are going to be put at risk” when the fire is lit.
He went on: “There is another option here which is that sensible and safety conscious leadership takes over and says we shouldn’t have this bonfire and we are going to tell people to stay away from this site and go to other sites,” reports Breaking News.
On the other hand, DUP councillor Sarah Bunting said both local residents and political leaders backed a safe celebration.
She said: “We need answers from NIEA. What type of asbestos is it? Where is it? If they removed some yesterday, would they be able to go in and assess this morning and remove any more that is there?” reports Breaking News.
Hundreds of bonfires are expected to be lit Friday night, in the lead-up to the Orange Order’s July 12th parades happening on Saturday.
These fires are a tradition that takes place ahead of the main annual celebration for Protestant loyal orders, known as the Twelfth of July.
While many bonfires proceed peacefully, some have sparked tensions due to the burning of flags, effigies, or political posters placed on the pyres before ignition, reports Breaking News.
A few bonfires were already lit Thursday evening, including a contentious structure in Moygashel, Co Tyrone, which was strongly condemned by politicians and church figures after it featured an effigy of migrants aboard a boat.
Before the fire was lit, the PSNI released a statement saying they were treating the matter as a potential hate incident and had launched an investigation, reports Breaking News.
The boat placed on top of the structure held more than a dozen mannequins wearing life jackets.
Several signs appeared beneath the boat, including one that read “Stop the boats” and another saying “Veterans before refugees”.
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew stated the display “was clearly intended to dehumanise people who come to our island seeking a better life”, reports Breaking News.
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