Acouncillor who sits on a committee responsible for environmental health and street cleansing has defended his part in building an Eleventh Night bonfire.
DUP representative Marc Collins boasted about helping to erect the pyre in the Glenfield estate in Carrickfergus, Co Antrim, ahead of it being lit tonight.
He sits on the direct services committee of Mid and East Antrim Borough Council, which is responsible for areas such as environmental health and education, along with street cleansing.
Yesterday, UDA and UFF flags appeared on top of the pyre, along with an election poster for Alliance MLA and Justice Minister Naomi Long. There is no suggestion Mr Collins had anything to do with the late placing of the flags or poster.
The councillor, who is also a member of the Carrickfergus Defenders Flute Band, posted on Facebook last week of his pride at taking part in putting up the huge bonfire and slammed people who criticise the traditional Eleventh Night celebrations.
“Plenty of councillors and MLAs suddenly piping up to complain about annual bonfires,” he wrote.
“These bonfires are held every year. If you have any issues with them, why wait until a week before they are due to be lit to start trying to cause controversy? Why not address it in August/September time?
“Ah, of course, because then it wouldn’t stoke tensions quite the same way.
“Same old story every year, poking the Protestant/unionist/loyalist community with a big stick until they react so the media and the pan-nationalist front can shame the ‘big bad Loyalists’.
“Bonfire builders live in the communities where they build their fires. The last thing they want to do is damage their neighbours’ property. These guys care about their culture and putting on a display for the local community. Stop trying to criminalise them.
“I’m proud to be helping to build the bonfire in Glenfield, where men, women, boys and girls of all ages are getting stuck in and building something we can be proud of.”
Sunday Life attempted to contact Mr Collins, but he did not respond.
Glenfield estate made headlines in 2015 after Nazi and American Confederate flags were put on lamp-posts near the bonfire site. Residents later took them down.
PressEye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 10th July 2021
Hugo checks out what all the fuss is about at the Craigyhill in Larne.
Picture: Philip Magowan / PressEye
PressEye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 10th July 2021
Visitors view the Craigyhill bonfire in Larne.
Picture: Philip Magowan / PressEye
Press Eye/Philip Magowan
PressEye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 10th July 2021
Craigyhill bonfire in Larne.
Picture: Philip Magowan / PressEye
Press Eye/Philip Magowan
PressEye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 10th July 2021
A general view of the bonfire in Tiger's Bay.
Picture: Philip Magowan / PressEye
Press Eye/Philip Magowan
PressEye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 10th July 2021
A general view of the bonfire in Tiger's Bay.
Picture: Philip Magowan / PressEye
Press Eye/Philip Magowan
PressEye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 10th July 2021
A general view of the bonfire in Tiger's Bay.
Picture: Philip Magowan / PressEye
Press Eye/Philip Magowan
PressEye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 10th July 2021
A general view of the bonfire in Tiger's Bay.
Picture: Philip Magowan / PressEye
Press Eye/Philip Magowan
Bonfire under construction in Portadown, Co Armagh. (Press Eye Ltd)
A bonfire in the Loyalist Tigers Bay Area, Belfast, that is situated on the peace line. Pic Peter Morrison/PA Wire
PA
Bonfire under construction. (Press Eye Ltd)
A massive bonfire in the loyalist Craigyhill area of Larne dwarfs local houses in the seaside town. Loyalists across Northern Ireland have been building bonfires in preparation for the eleventh night celebrations, as part of a loyalist tradition to mark the anniversary of the Protestant King William's victory over the Catholic King James at the Battle of the Boyne in 1690. Picture date: Thursday July 1, 2021. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Peter Morrison/PA Wire
PA
A massive bonfire in the loyalist Craigyhill area of Larne dwarfs local houses in the seaside town. Loyalists across Northern Ireland have been building bonfires in preparation for the eleventh night celebrations, as part of a loyalist tradition to mark the anniversary of the Protestant King William's victory over the Catholic King James at the Battle of the Boyne in 1690. Picture date: Thursday July 1, 2021. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Peter Morrison/PA Wire
PA
A massive bonfire is placed opposite a fire station in Newtownards. Loyalists across Northern Ireland have been building bonfires in preparation for the eleventh night celebrations, as part of a loyalist tradition to mark the anniversary of the Protestant King William's victory over the Catholic King James at the Battle of the Boyne in 1690. Picture date: Thursday July 1, 2021. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Peter Morrison/PA Wire
