The Five Demands

Bonfire removed in west Belfast (UTV)

An anti-internment bonfire has been removed in west Belfast.

Tactical police officers attended while council workers loaded wooden pallets onto lorries which were driven away from the site in the Cullingtree Road area on Thursday morning.

It was removed a day before the bonfires are due to be lit to commemorate the introduction of the detention without trial of republican suspects in the 1970s.

“Police are always willing to progress community concerns on a broad number of issues, including bonfires,” a PSNI spokesperson commented.

“Whilst not the lead organisation on the issue of the siting of bonfires, we understand we have a role to play and will assist other statutory bodies carry out their duties if called upon to do so.

“We always advise that organisers ensure they have sought permission from relevant landowners and that bonfires are safe, pose no threat to life or property and are not likely to prompt a breach of the peace or any other offence.

“Whilst the physical removal of bonfires is not a matter for police, local neighbourhood officers can and do attend when requested to do so by agencies involved in bonfire removal.”