Sunday Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Gibson’s appeal to loyalists over halting bonfires
LOYALISTS should abandon efforts to rebuild bonfires and stick to the coronavirus regulations, an influential clergyman has said.
The Rev Mervyn Gibson, from Westbourne Presbyterian Church in East Belfast, acknowledged public anger following alleged socialdistancing breaches during the Bobby Storey funeral.
He said his community cared too much about Northern Ireland to risk everyone’s health by restoring Eleventh Night pyres. Mr Gibson added: “We do not want to mimic their bad behaviour.”
He said, speaking personally, whatever was done had to be restricted to 30 people under the regulations to limit the spread of coronavirus.
Mr Gibson said: “I think that will be difficult for bonfires to do but there is anger in the community about what happened at the recent funeral.” Some within loyalism have issued guidance suggesting any bonfires should be “small and localised”.
Public health advice on restricting the size of gatherings has helped drive down the rate of infection.
On Tuesday, hundreds of people lined the road in West Belfast for the funeral of former IRA figure and senior republican Storey, who backed Sinn Fein’s peace process efforts.
Many across society accused republicans of flouting socialdistancing guidelines.
Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill has faced calls to step aside from the leaders of four Stormont parties after her attendance and police are still investigating.