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A bonfire in Moygashel, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, was ignited despite attempts by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) to remove a controversial effigy placed atop it. The structure, a replica of a mosque, was deemed a “hate display” by the police, who had launched a complex and extensive operation to take it down. According to a police spokesperson, the efforts were at an advanced stage when the bonfire was unexpectedly set alight, preventing the removal of the offensive material.
The PSNI clarified that had the bonfire not been ignited prematurely, officers would have secured the area, confiscated the effigy, and used it as evidence. A 56-year-old man arrested in connection with the incident has since been charged with incitement to hatred and is scheduled to appear at Dungannon Magistrates Court. The police emphasized that the investigation into this hate-motivated crime remains ongoing. Chief Superintendent Norman Haslett condemned the act, stating, “Hate crime has no place in our society and will not be tolerated,” and explained that the pre-emptive bonfire lighting was an attempt to avoid the removal of the material.
Former senior PSNI officer Roy McComb noted the difficulty police would have faced in quickly accessing and removing the effigy, especially given the height and complexity of the bonfire. He pointed out that any intervention would have caused delays and heightened tensions within the community. Local Social Democratic and Labour Party councillor Karol McQuade described those responsible for the bonfire as “attention seeking” and highlighted the fear it instilled both locally and among the Muslim community. Meanwhile, the Archbishop of Armagh, the Most Rev John McDowell, called the display “an expression of deep hostility,” rather than a legitimate protest. Speaking on Good Morning Ulster, he suggested that such hostile reactions to immigration are unconstructive and urged efforts to foster an inclusive society that values the contributions of diverse communities.
The effigy was positioned on the bonfire on Wednesday, with the planned lighting initially set for Friday. The event sparked widespread condemnation, including from Justice Minister Naomi Long, who referred to the display as a “nauseating spectacle of hatred” and urged its removal. Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn also denounced the act as a “sickening and cowardly act of intimidation.” Meanwhile, the Moygashel Bonfire Association defended the display, emphasizing that while it might offend or shock, those involved were exercising their right to freedom of expression.
This is not the first time the Moygashel bonfire has been at the center of controversy. In 2025, an effigy depicting refugees in a boat was placed on the bonfire and burned. The previous year saw a replica police car set alight, and in 2023, a picture of the then Taoiseach Leo Varadkar alongside an Irish flag was included in the display. These bonfires are a traditional feature in some unionist communities around Northern Ireland, typically lit in early July to mark the Twelfth of July celebrations. This date commemorates the Battle of the Boyne in 1690, when Protestant King William III defeated Catholic King James II, with bonfires commonly lit on the eve of the Twelfth, known as the Eleventh Night
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