POPPY wreaths have been stolen from a cenotaph and placed on top of a republican bonfire in Londonderry’s Bogside.
The names of murdered PSNI officers and prison officers have also been placed on the bonfire, which is off the Lecky Road and is due to be burned tonight.
Sinn Fein and DUP councillors have condemned the display as an “act of hate”.
DUP councillor Graham Warke posted a video on social media condemning the bonfire, saying he was “sickened and disgusted”.
He said: “These three poppy wreaths were laid on July 1 at a war cenotaph. They represent everyone in this city who fought in World War One. On July 3 these three poppy wreaths were stolen and they were reported to PSNI.
“Now we have them sitting on a bonfire ready to get burnt tonight.
“I call on anyone with influence to get these poppy wreaths removed immediately.”
Cllr Warke said the same thing had happened last year and that poppy wreaths were burnt.
“This has ended up the same as last year, back on the Bogside bonfire. It is not every year it happens.
“I have seen the names myself, the names of murdered PSNI officers and prison officers on the bonfire now. I am totally disgusted. The poppies is bad enough, but having the names of murdered police officers on that bonfire is terrible.
“The poppy wreaths represent everyone that fought in World War One, from both sides of the community. To see poppy wreaths going up in smoke is awful and to see the names of murdered prison officers and police officers on it is a total disgrace.”
He added: “It is just pure hatred.”
Cllr Ward said there were efforts from community youth workers at the scene to get the poppy wreaths removed.
He said the PSNI was aware of the situation.
Local Sinn Féin Councillor Patricia Logue condemned the ‘display of hate’ that took place at a bonfire in the Bogside area of Derry.
Cllr Logue said: “There were several hate fires that took place in this city over July and August but nothing justifies what occurred in Meenan Square and those responsible for putting poppy wreaths, flags and other hate messages on the bonfire are intent only on causing extreme offence and damaging community relations.
“This is nothing but a display of hate and has absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with republicanism.
“The people of the Bogside do not want this bonfire and they certainly do not want displays of hate designed to cause distress and antagonism to their neighbours in this city.”
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