Tyrone MLA files hate crime complaint over loyalist bonfire

SINN FÉIN MLA Barry McElduff has filed a hate crime complaint after his election poster appeared on a loyalist bonfire site in south Belfast. His poster is one of a number of Sinn Féin MLAs whose posters adorn the Annadale bonfire. It is understood a fellow Sinn Féin MLA for West Tyrone, Declan McAleer, also features on the bonfire.

Barry McElduff said:

“It is completely unacceptable that Sinn Féin election posters are placed on loyalist bonfires across the North. I had received numerous reports of my posters being placed on bonfires. I have been provided with photographic evidence of a site in Annadale, south Belfast, which confirms this to be the case.

“I have filed a hate crime complaint in regards to my poster being placed on the bonfire.

“Unfortunately, the placing of Sinn Féin posters on loyalist bonfires sends out the message that a number of people are not prepared to move on and work together for the betterment of our communities.

“However, I acknowledge that this group is a small minority. These bonfires – adorned with posters, effigies and Irish national flags – have absolutely nothing to do with culture and I would like to see more being done to see these being removed from bonfires.”