Naomi Long responds after effigies of Mary Lou McDonald, Michelle O'Neill hung at bonfires

Alliance Party leader Naomi Long stated today that she felt "physically sick" after seeing effigies of herself, Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald and deputy leader Michelle O'Neill hanging from a bonfire in Antrim.

They were put on an Eleventh Night bonfire in Glenfield in Carrickfergus, alongside an election poster of East Antrim Alliance MLA Danny Donnelly.

Long said children took part in a fun day at the bonfire while the effigies were hanging on the pyre, photos of which Hot Press will not be sharing.

A PSNI spokesperson said: "The police service is aware of images which have emerged showing effigies placed on a bonfire in Carrickfergus and are investigating."

On Tuesday, Sinn Féin councillor Gary McCleave said his children asked him why “daddy is on a bonfire” after his poster was placed on a pyre in Belfast.

A poster on a bonfire in Cregagh, east Belfast, also made a crude sectarian reference to Michelle O'Neill.

Naomi Long described the effigies in Carrickfergus as "utterly sick" in a statement.

"So, having become accustomed to seeing my posters burned on bonfires, I honestly thought nothing could shock me anymore," the MLA tweeted. "However, late last night I received photos of effigies of me, Michelle O'Neill and Mary Lou McDonald hanged on the bonfire at Glenfield in Carrickfergus.

"I'm not sharing the images due to risk of distressing families who have lost loved ones by suicide. And because they are utterly sick. I will, however, be sharing them and the pictures of the bonfire builders standing proudly in front of their creation with with the police," the Alliance NI leader added.

"These were not last minute additions. There are photos of a children's "fun day" taking place at this fire while our effigies were hanging on it. Some local businesses even sponsored it. What kind of parent would see that and think it's acceptable for their child to see?

"I felt physically sick at those photos - not just at the effigies but at the festering hatred and sectarianism they represent; hatred that not only persists in our community but is being passed on to the next generation as normal," Long continued.

"This has to stop. Our children deserve better."

🧵So, having become accustomed to seeing my posters burned on bonfires, I honestly thought nothing could shock me anymore. However, late last night I received photos of effigies of me, @moneillsf and @MaryLouMcDonald hanged on the bonfire at Glenfield in Carrickfergus. >

— Naomi Long MLA (@naomi_long) July 13, 2022

Sinn Féin MLA Gerry Kelly said his party had reported several bonfire issues to police.

“The burning of flags, posters and effigies which included first minister elect Michelle O’Neill, Mary Lou McDonald and other political figures on bonfires is wrong, deeply offensive and is a hate crime," he said.

“Sinn Féin has reported a number of hate crimes to the PSNI related to bonfires.

“There is an onus on unionist political and community leaders to stand up against these displays of sectarian hatred and make it clear that there is no place for them in this society.

“The silence from some senior unionist leaders has been deafening. It is also simply not good enough for bonfire builders to say that they ‘took a democratic decision’ to commit hate crimes.

“The police say they have been gathering evidence on these hate crimes what the public needs to see is action. All this highlights the need for safeguarding regulations around bonfires which has become an imperative."

“Sinn Féin has reported a number of hate crimes to the PSNI related to bonfires.

“The police say they have been gathering evidence on these hate crimes, what the public needs to see is action.” @GerryKellyMLA https://t.co/sdMFjrI8ac pic.twitter.com/Q3UjZWsAJ0

— Sinn Féin (@sinnfeinireland) July 13, 2022

DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson also condemned the burning of posters or effigies for the Twelfth.

"Throughout my lifetime I have had the privilege to celebrate and educate others about my identity all over the world. At no point has burning posters, flags or pictures of serving politicians featured as part of that," he said.

"Nor has slogans or displays that advocate sectarian violence against anyone in this society regardless of their political position or religious views."

NEW: An Alliance Party source has said DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson’s condemnation of hate displays over the 11th/12th has been “weak”.

— Amanda Ferguson (@AmandaFBelfast) July 13, 2022

Tánaiste Leo Varadkar described the effigies as "appalling and unacceptable".