A CONTROVERSIAL LOYALIST bonfire was lit a day early after police began an operation to remove a replica of a mosque from the top of the pyre.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland said it had launched a “significant and complex policing operation to remove a hate display” from the top of the bonfire in Moygashel, Co Tyrone.

The PSNI said the operation was at an advanced stage when the bonfire was lit and “offending material” would have been removed and seized as evidence once the site was secured.

Footage of the bonfire ablaze was shared on social media. 

The Moygashel bonfire is one of around 300 across the North which will be burned on 10 and 11 July, ahead of the Orange Order’s annual 12 July parades.

It was due to be set alight tonight. 

A 56-year-old man was charged with incitement to hatred on Thursday. He is due to appear before Dungannon Magistrates’ Court this morning. 

The remains of the Moygashel bonfire. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

The PSNI said in a statement earlier on Thursday that the display on the bonfire was being treated as a hate-motivated criminal offence.

“Hate crime has no place in our society and will not be tolerated,” Chief Superintendent Norman Haslett said.

“That is why tonight we commenced a proactive policing operation to take action and remove the hate display from Moygashel Bonfire. Before police arrival the bonfire was set alight a day in advance to prevent removal of the criminal material.

“Where there is evidence that offences have been committed, we will take robust action.

The model has been widely condemned by political parties, religious leaders and a human rights group. Signs saying “Secure our borders” and “End the threat of radical Islam” have also been placed on the pyre.

Amnesty International described it as a “vile display” and a “blatant attempt to stir up anti-Muslim hatred and intimidate local families”.

Speaking to The Journal, the Church of Ireland’s Archbishop of Dublin said that the “idea of incinerating something that is of essential affection to a faith body, which is entitled under freedom of religion to practice its religion, is something that one could only condemn”.

Archbishop Michael Jackson added that it is “extremely alarming” to see sectarianism “morph” and “shift from sectarianism to racism, while retaining the sectarian component”.

“I think is a massive wake-up call to us all,” said Jackson.

He added that it is “abhorrent” and not only “unacceptable, but corrosive and destructive”.

The bonfire was due to be set alight tonight.

Archbishop John McDowell and Archbishop Eamon Martin also issued a joint statement describing the replica mosque atop the bonfire as “grossly offensive” and urged people to express compassion to those from other religions.

They said the targeting of the Muslim community “through crude symbols and threats of violence by sinister forces” undermines gospel principles of respect and compassion, as well as freedom of religion.

“We urge Christians, and all people of good will, to reflect carefully on their actions which can ignite violence against innocent people, all of whom are made in God’s image and are therefore worthy of respect and compassion.

Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn has described it as a “sickening and cowardly act of intimidation”.

“The placement of a replica mosque on the Moygashel bonfire is a sickening and cowardly act of intimidation,” he said on social media. 

“This is not about tradition, and in no way does it represent the vast majority of people in Northern Ireland. We must stand united and completely reject such hatred.”

Last year’s bonfire in Moygashel, and the one before that, were similarly controversial.

The bonfire last year was topped with an effigy of refugees in a boat.

In 2024, a mock PSNI vehicle was burnt on the top of the bonfire and in 2023 a boat designed to represent the post-Brexit Irish Sea economic border was torched.

The DUP said the 11 July bonfires “should be positive cultural celebrations”.

“We support those within our community that wish to celebrate their culture by continuing with that tradition in a peaceful way,” a spokesperson said.

“The placing of flags, effigies or other items on bonfires is not part of that tradition and should not take place.”

Ulster Unionist Party leader Jon Burrows said the bonfires are an “important cultural tradition” that is “undermined” when they are used to intimidate, provoke or demean others.

“There can be no place for placing any place of worship on a bonfire and setting it alight. It is simply wrong.

“Sadly, images of this bonfire will once again travel around the world, damaging Northern Ireland’s reputation and playing into the hands of critics of unionist and loyalist culture.”

Meanwhile, the Moygashel Bonfire Association has described the bonfire as an act of “political protest” against “uncontrolled illegal mass immigration”.

In a statement on social media, it said it had “noted the predicable fury in respect of the act of political protest at our bonfire site this year”.

It claimed that the replica of the mosque and banners is  not “opposition is to people, but rather to ideology and Government policy”.

“Once this is appreciated, then it is very clear this is no more and no less than an act of protest, which is lawful protected expression,” it added.

Fermanagh and South Tyrone Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew described the display on the bonfire as “deplorable” and “a clear hate crime”.

“There is no place in our society for racism, and it is the responsibility of all political representatives and community leaders to stand against it.

Alliance Party councillor Eddie Roofe described the bonfire as “hateful and deeply offensive”.

He said: “The placing of this model on top of the bonfire is utterly abhorrent.

“Those responsible seek only to instil fear and spread hatred towards a specific group of people who call Northern Ireland their home, and it must be removed immediately.”

Eleventh night bonfires will be lit across Northern Ireland tonight, Saturday night and Sunday night ahead of the Orange Order’s 12 July parades on Monday.

While most of the bonfires pass off without incident, several have become the focus of contention due to the placing of flags, effigies and election posters on the structures before they are ignited.

With reporting from Press Association