Trolls target victim of fatal bonfire accident
TROLLS have launched a tirade of online abuse about a father of two who died after falling from a bonfire in Co. Antrim at the weekend.
Members of John Steele’s community in Larne have hit out against a large number of social media users who have been poking fun at the tragic manner in which he died.
The window cleaner was helping to build a 15-metre pyre in the Antiville estate in Larne when he slipped and fell to his death on Saturday night.
Speaking to the Irish Daily Mail, loyalist activist Jamie Bryson said the spike in abuse since the tragedy represents an overall hatred towards the loyalist community.
‘The surge in trolling, mocking and dehumanisation of the Ulster British community following the tragic accident leading to the death of Mr Steele demonstrates the depth of embedded hatred towards our culture and identity,’ he said.
‘This is a manifestation of 25 years of the “process” whereby our community has been treated as second-class
‘We will celebrate our culture’
citizens, in my view and the view of many in my community.
‘It has been become acceptable to mock, deride and abuse our culture, traditions and aspirations.
‘We will not sit quietly at the back of the bus, and despite the mockery, abuse and vile behaviour of a large cohort of online trolls, we will continue to stand up for our rights and proudly celebrate our culture,’ he said.
Mr Steele, who was aged in his 30s and from the Antiville area, was pronounced dead at the scene.
The bonfire was taken down on Sunevents, day afternoon and the remnants were set alight at a vigil for Mr Steele on Sunday night.
Mid and East Antrim Borough Council confirmed yesterday that an investigation had begun into the fatal accident.
It said in a statement: ‘While the construction and lighting of bonfires are not council-managed on an ongoing basis we work closely with the community and provide any support we can. As this tragedy occurred on council land, we have launched an investigation.’
Meanwhile, a short distance away in Craigyhill, a world-record attempt bonfire went ahead in memory of Mr Steele. James Brown, from the Craigyhill bonfire committee, said that they finished building the structure on Sunday night, and it is around 67m tall.
Mr Brown said that following Saturday night’s tragedy, they spoke to Mr Steele’s family and were asked to proceed with the record attempt.
He said: ‘Talking to the family, they wanted us to push on for the record in John’s memory, so that gave us the determination to go ahead and smash the record for John, and that’s what we have done.’