Sinn Féin condemn burning of images of first minister on Derry bonfire

Sinn Féin has condemned the burning of images of First Minister Michelle O'Neill on a bonfire in Londonderry as "anti-democratic" and "sectarian".

On Saturday, a bonfire, from which almost 500 pallets were removed during the week, was set on fire beside a road in the Bogside area.

Photos of O'Neill, as well as union jacks, Israeli flags, Parachute Regiment, Somme Remembrance and Northern Ireland flags were attached to the bonfire.

Police are treating the burning of the effigies and materials as sectarian-motivated hate crimes.

In a post on social media, O'Neill said she would "not be deterred, distracted or intimidated".

"I will continue to call out sectarianism, anti-community activity and destruction wherever it comes from.

North Belfast MP John Finucane said these bonfires were "hate filled sectarianism" and "the very antithesis of Irish republicanism".

Youths placed pallets near the bottom of the Lecky Road flyover and set fire to it just before 23:00 BST.

Two other bonfires in the Creggan and Top of the Hill areas of the city also had flags and effigies placed on them before being set slight.

Fireworks were let off at 22:45 before the bonfire at the Lecky Road was started.

A large crowd gathered to watch the bonfire, while police observed from the city walls overlooking the Bogside.

Bonfires on 15 August are traditional in some nationalist parts of Northern Ireland.

In a statement, Finucane said the bonfires "disgracefully imitate the most offensive aspects of loyalist bonfires in their sectarianism, their criminality and recklessness".

"The small number of young people and children involved, often manipulated by others who stand in the shadows, are not representative of the majority of young people who are engaged in positive and productive cultural activities all year round."