Michelle O'Neill welcomes removal of bonfire material in Derry

First Minister Michelle O'Neill has welcomed the removal of materials to be used for a bonfire in Londonderry.

The removal of items, including pallets, took place on Lecky Road in the Bogside area of Derry and was carried out by the Department for Infrastructure (DfI), with police present.

A bonfire in the Bogside has attracted large crowds in recent years but has also faced some criticism over the burning of poppy wreaths, as well as unionist flags and symbols.

Speaking in Derry on Wednesday, O'Neill said: "I commend those who have removed the pallets and everything else, all the material, because none of us wants to see these anti-social bonfires in our community."

"We need to find ways to celebrate our culture or mark occasions, but don't do so in a way that endangers your community, that endangers the homes around you, and I think it was right and proper that this material was removed," O'Neill told reporters gathered outside during a visit to an Irish-language arts and cultural centre.

In a statement, the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said officers were in attendance in the Lecky Road area on Wednesday morning, "assisting in preventing a breach of the peace following a call for support from the Department for Infrastructure in relation to the removal of pallets from the area.

"Public safety is our priority, and the Police Service of Northern Ireland continues to work with our partner agencies, community representatives and landowners to address community safety issues relating to bonfires."

BBC News NI has also contacted the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) for a response regarding the removal of material from Lecky Road.

Bonfires on 15 August are traditional in some nationalist areas of Northern Ireland to mark the Feast of the Assumption, a Catholic holy day.

There was criticism from some Unionist politicians over the burning of union flags, a King Charles coronation flag and the flag of Israel on the bonfire in the Meenan Square area of the Bogside in 2025.

Police also investigated shots being fired near the Meenan Square site in 2022 and also investigated reports of political material - including flags and poppy wreaths - being placed on the bonfire as potential hate crimes.

Posters placed on the bonfire in 2021 referenced former Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) Chief Constable Simon Byrne and one referred to the murder of Catholic police officer Ronan Kerr.

Plans to redevelop the Meenan Square site in the Bogside where the bonfire had been lit in recent years were approved by councillors last year.

Work began in the Meenan Square area in February this year, where an £11m redevelopment is planned.

In May 2025, Apex Housing previously said it could not find a contractor willing to remove bonfire material from the site that was earmarked for the multi-million pound redevelopment.

The regeneration project, which includes a community hub as well as retail and commercial units, means the bonfire can no longer take place at that location in the Bogside, but material was being gathered for the bonfire in a nearby location.

In a statement posted to social media, Bogside Community Support, which describes itself as a voluntary community initiative "to support and install community spirit back into the Bogside", said it was "deeply disappointed" by the removal of the material on Lecky Road.

"After months of hard work engaging with local young people, reaching an agreement to have the bonfire in a safe space below the walls, returning stolen items and working to keep anti-social behaviour around the flyover to a minimum, we are deeply disappointed by the actions taken by the PSNI this morning," the statement read.

"In just a few hours, months of community engagement and progress have been put at risk."

They appealed for "level heads and calm" following the removal of materials.