Eleventh night bonfires lit across Northern Ireland

Traditional Eleventh night bonfires were lit across Northern Ireland last night (Friday).

Up to 300 fires took place including one on a site in Belfast - despite asbestos warnings and a last-ditch plea by Stormont Environment Minister Andrew Muir.

Effigies of the Irish rap group Kneecap topped a different bonfire in south Belfast, while there was condemnation at the placing of Irish flags and sectarian slogans on other pyres.

Elsewhere, the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service also tackled a gorse blaze in the Belfast Hills off the Ballyutoag Road.

The bonfire at Meridi Street, off the Donegall Road in south Belfast, had been the focus of warnings, political rows and legal challenges throughout the week.

Earlier on Friday, Stormont Environment Minister Andrew Muir urged that the bonfire on a site that contains asbestos and is also close to an electricity sub-station, which powers two major hospitals in the city, not be lit.

However it was lit as planned late on Friday.

This morning Mr Muir said: "I am very disappointed with the decision to light the bonfire.

"Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) staff monitored events last night along with statutory partners throughout the night.

"We will be engaging with other statutory partners in the coming days as we all assess the impact of the bonfire.

"NIEA will also focus on the efforts by the landowner to remove the asbestos pile safely from the site in the time ahead and the environmental crime investigation will continue.

"As I have already stated, a review must also be undertaken looking at lessons that can be learned involving all statutory partners."

Meanwhile, hundreds of other bonfires were also set alight in the July 11 tradition ahead of the Orange Order's July 12 parades today.

Another bonfire nearby at Roden Street was topped with effigies of Kneecap, as well as a sign written in the Irish language.

A bonfire in Eastvale Avenue in Dungannon, Co Tyrone, features the group on a poster with the wording "Kill Your Local Kneecap", seemingly in response to a clip that emerged from a gig in 2023, which appeared to show a member saying: "The only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP."

There was also criticism of the placing of Irish flags and sectarian slogans on a number of bonfires including one in the Highfield area of west Belfast.

A small number of bonfires were lit on Thursday night, including the controversial pyre in Moygashel, Co Tyrone, which had been widely criticised by political representatives and church leaders after it was topped with an effigy of migrants in a boat.

In a statement released ahead of the fire being lit, the PSNI said they were investigating a hate incident in relation to the fire.

The boat on top of the bonfire contained more than a dozen life-sized mannequins wearing life jackets.

Below the boat were several placards, one saying: "Stop the boats", and another saying: "Veterans before refugees".