Environment officials have launched a criminal investigation after tyres were placed on a controversial loyalist bonfire in Moygashel.
Investigators from the Northern Ireland Environment Agency’s (NIEA) Environmental Crime Unit (ECU) have said they are “actively investigating” the dumping of toxic material at the Co Tyrone site.
Tyres and other materials have been packed into the centre of the bonfire, which also includes hundreds of pallets.
The NIEA is part of the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, which is headed by Alliance minister Andrew Muir.
The Environmental Crime Unit investigates potential “waste crime offences with significant volumes” and can carry out site visits.
The ‘Eleventh Night’ bonfire has been at the centre of a series of racist and other displays over recent years.
Last year, a sickening display placed on the bonfire mocked the plight of vulnerable refugees and migrants.
A small boat with a number of dark-skinned mannequins dressed in lifejackets and hi-vis vests was hoisted to the top of the pyre before it was set alight.
A banner stating “Stop the boats” was also hung from the bonfire.
A year earlier, a replica PSNI vehicle was placed on the bonfire, while in 2023 an image of former Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and a tricolour were burned.
Just last week, a “racist” sign claiming ‘Muslims are not welcome’ appeared at a children’s playpark in Moygashel.
In a statement, a spokesman for Daera said the “NIEA’s Environmental Crime Unit has opened an incident and is now actively investigating the matter.
“At this stage, we are unable to provide any further comment until these inquiries are complete,” it added.
A spokesman said “as part of its response to illegal waste dumping the ECU will seek remedial action initially in consultation with the landowner or person in control of the land” and where applicable request “the removal of material”.
“A failure to adhere to this remediation notice may constitute a criminal offence and may result, depending on the circumstances, in a criminal prosecution,” he added.
The spokesman added that responsibility for illegal waste dumping is split between the NIEA and local councils.
“The NIEA focuses its enforcement actions primarily on cases which are high risk to health and or the environment and large-scale waste dumping activity rather than low level ad-hoc dumping often referred to as ‘fly-tipping’, which is primarily addressed by district councils,” he added.
The spokesman added there is currently an agreed “fly-tipping Protocol between the majority of district councils and NIEA which seeks to determine which body will take the lead regarding specific cases of illegal dumping.
“Under this protocol NIEA takes responsibility for investigating large deposits of non-hazardous wastes of 20m³ or more and hazardous materials such as asbestos and fuel laundered waste that cannot be accepted by councils,” he said.
“Councils are responsible for dealing with all other deposits.”
