A effigy of Michelle O’Neill appeared on the Eastvale Avenue bonfire
The placing of an effigy of Sinn Féin Vice President Michelle O’Neill on a County Tyrone bonfire is being treated as a hate crime by police.
The picture, along with Irish flags, appeared on a pyre in Dungannon on Tuesday evening.
Earlier a poster of councillor Taylor McGrann’s name, was placed on a bonfire in Rathcoole, north Belfast.
Police said they were liaising with community representatives in both areas about having the material removed.
The incident in Rathcoole is also being treated it as a hate crime.
Mr McGrann thanked those who sent messages of support after the image began circulating on social media.
“There is an onus on unionist political and community leaders to stand up against these displays of sectarian hatred,” he wrote on Facebook.
On Monday Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson urged people not to burn flags or effigies on loyalist bonfires.
He said it was “wrong and disrespectful”.
SDLP councillor Gary McKeown also tweeted a picture of his image on a bonfire in Belfast.
This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
Skip twitter post by Cllr Gary McKeown
Allow Twitter content?
This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
Thousands of people in unionist areas in Northern Ireland commemorate the anniversary of the battle every summer with bonfires on 11 July and parades on 12 July.
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew condemned the use of the effigie of Michelle O’Neill.
“All political leaders must stand together against these displays,” he added.
The DUP MLA for Fermanagh and South Tyrone, Deborah Erskine, said it was “wrong”.
“I urge those responsible to remove the effigy and celebrate the 11th night respectfully. Numerous events will be held tonight without burning flags, symbols or effigies, Dungannon should be the same,” she said.
Ulster Unionist Party leader (UUP) Doug Beattie said it was “vile and hateful,” while Alliance MLA Eóin Tennyson said it was “disgraceful and completely unacceptable”.
Image source, Other
An effigy above a poster bearing the name of Councillor Taylor McGrann appeared on a bonfire in Rathcoole
Speaking after Cllr McGrann’s name appeared on the Rathcoole bonfire Sinn Féin MLA Gerry Kelly said: “None of this behaviour represents legitimate expressions of culture – these are sectarian hate crimes.”
DUP MLA for North Belfast Phillip Brett said he “condemned without reservation the appearance of this sign” and called for its immediate removal.
This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
Skip twitter post 2 by Phillip Brett
Allow Twitter content?
This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
It comes after a picture of Taoiseach (Irish prime minister) Leo Varadkar and an Irish flag were set alight in Moygashel, County Tyrone, on Saturday.
Bonfires are lit in some unionist areas on 11 July each year as part of Battle of the Boyne commemorations.
Image source, PA Media
An Irish flag and a picture of Taoiseach (Irish PM) Leo Varadkar were set alight in County Tyrone on Saturday
The events celebrate the 1690 victory of the Protestant William of Orange – also known as King Billy – over his Catholic father-in-law, King James II.
The Eleventh Night bonfire tradition commemorates the preparations for the battle, when large fires were lit to welcome William of Orange
