There has been widespread condemnation after placards appeared on an anti-Internment bonfire in Newry with the names of those murdered by dissident republicans.
Cookstown prison officer David Black’s name appears alongside that of Constable Stephen Carroll and Willy Frazer.
Ulster Unionist Councillor for Newry David Taylor said he will be asking the PSNI to investigate this as a hate crime.
The son of murdered prison officer David Black said he was ‘absolutely sickened’ to see his dad’s name on a bonfire again.
“I will never understand the mentality of those who seek to cause further hurt by placing the names of our loved ones on a bonfire,” said Cllr Kyle Black.
Absolutely sickened to see my Dad’s name on a bonfire again tonight in Newry, along with Constable Stephen Carroll and Willy Frazer.
I will never understand the mentality of those who seek to cause further hurt by placing the names of our loved ones on a bonfire. pic.twitter.com/jfy2ppJSBt
— Kyle Black (@Kyleblack91) August 8, 2019
Sorry to see this Kyle. This does not represent Newry nor the views of most of the people in it.
— Shealan Strain (@shealan_1) August 8, 2019
This is not culture, it is pure sectarian bigotry and hate.
There is no place for the taunting of victims in our society.
There is no place for the burning of anyone’s national flag.
I am totally disgusted by this bonfire in Newry. The intolerance and vitriol must end. pic.twitter.com/zNWJcjMTN1
— Eóin Tennyson (@EoinTennyson) August 9, 2019