A controversial bonfire in Moygashel, County Tyrone, topped with an effigy of a migrant boat and adorned with anti-immigration placards, was lit last night, prompting an investigation by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) into a hate incident.
The towering pyre, which also included an Irish tricolour flag, was set alight late on Thursday. The display has drawn widespread condemnation, with the Church of Ireland Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, John McDowell, describing it as “inhuman and deeply sub-Christian.” The PSNI confirmed their investigation, stating their intent to “help those who are or who feel vulnerable, [and] keep people safe.”
Previous Controversies and “Disgusting” Effigy
This is not the first time the Moygashel bonfire has caused controversy. Last year, a mock police car was burned on the pyre, and in 2023, a boat representing the post-Brexit Irish Sea economic border was torched.
Claire Hanna, leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP), branded the current effigy “disgusting,” stating, “It would be ludicrous to call it art in any sense.” She added, “it’s a deeply dehumanising provocation.”
The effigy featured more than a dozen life-sized mannequins wearing life jackets within the boat, and placards below included messages such as “stop the boats” and “veterans before refugees.”
Context: Crackdown on Illegal Migrants
The Moygashel incident occurs amidst plans for a “nationwide blitz” targeting migrants working illegally in the UK. Efforts are underway to deter people from reaching the UK from France, with ministers hoping to tackle “pull factors” attracting migrants. This includes a new agreement between Sir Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron to return some individuals arriving by small boats directly to France.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper noted a “major surge in immigration enforcement activity,” with a 51% increase in illegal working arrests since last summer. She stated that over 30,000 people with no right to be in the UK have been returned since last summer.
Scenes from Moygashel and Broader Bonfire Tradition
Dramatic photographs show crowds gathering in Moygashel to witness the towering pyre ablaze with fierce flames. Although lit late Thursday night, scores of people remained in the town, located approximately 40 miles west of Belfast.
The Moygashel bonfire is one of around 300 bonfires set to be lit across Northern Ireland on Thursday and Friday nights, ahead of the Orange Order’s July 12 parades. These traditional fires precede the main date in the parading calendar of Protestant loyal orders, the Twelfth Of July. While most bonfires occur without incident, some become contentious due to the placement of flags, effigies, and election posters on the structures before ignition.
Condemnation as “Racist, Threatening, and Offensive”
Archbishop John McDowell further condemned the effigy as “racist, threatening and offensive.” He emphasized that the display “certainly has nothing whatsoever to do with Christianity or with Protestant culture and is in fact inhuman and deeply sub-Christian.”
Footage shared on social media platform X showed crowds gathering and a marching band playing as the effigies were set on fire, with close-ups revealing banners like “stop the boats” on the pyre.
Police Investigation Confirmed
The PSNI has confirmed receiving “a number of reports regarding the bonfire in Moygashel and the material that has been placed upon it.” A spokesperson stated, “Police are investigating this hate incident,” reiterating their commitment to “help those who are or who feel vulnerable, to keep people safe.” They emphasized working with local communities and stakeholders to ensure a safe environment within existing legislative frameworks.
