Republican bonfire builders have removed a placard with the name of a Protestant teenager who drowned following a backlash.
The offensive signage atop the Creggan bonfire in Derry included the name of local teenager Kyle Bonnes who died from drowning in 2010.
The 15-year-old died on 7 April 2010 after he jumped into the river at Drumahoe, on the outskirts of Derry.
Republican bonfire builders in Derry reportedly blamed local kids following a backlash despite the fact it has been 15 years since the youngster passed away.
Photos showing the child’s name appeared on the official Creggan bonfire social media page on Monday and still remained online on Tuesday.
Kyle Bonnes died tragically from drowning in 2010
The placard included the tragic youngster’s name alongside loyalist killer Billy Wright, PSNI officer John Caldwell, and another man, reportedly a local PSNI community officer in the area.
The offensive photos drew condemnation even from those who otherwise supported the bonfire.
One comment underneath read: “Lads … that’s abit much had my own run ins way Kyle but there no need for that”
Another added: “Kyle bonnes seriously?? fs wee lad drowned getting away from the cops. coulda just as easily been one of ours. give yer head a wobble. someone have the decency to paint over it!!”
On a separate social media post, one commentator added: “Dont mind the others..but not a wains name”.
Republicans sent a photograph to the Irish News on Tuesday evening showing what that appeared to be the bonfire without the offensive signage.
Republicans said they had engaged with the builders of the bonfire and that the sign containing Kyle Bonnes name had been removed.
The source added: “The builders of the bonfire said they had no idea it was there and they are blaming local kids.”
However, a placard bearing the name of local Sinn Fein MLA Pádraig Delargy remained atop the bonfire last night.
Waterside Unionist councillor Darren Guy described the offensive signage as “pure sectarian hatred”.
“To put Kyle Bonnes’ name on it, it just re-traumatises his mother and his family. As soon as they see it, it’s in their mind all the time. It’s wrong, it’s nasty stuff. I’ve nothing against people having bonfires, but this, it cannot be condemned enough,” he said.
“It’s totally uncalled for. You know, it’s singling people out and that’s wrong. It’s wrong. You’re singling a person out who had nothing to do with anything and you’re re-traumatising the whole family.
“I think it’s awful.”
The sign atop the bonfire has now been reportedly removed
Speaking more broadly about the recent violence between Catholic and Protestant youths in the city, the Ulster Unionist councillor said he believes a lot of it stems from social media.
“It’s an ever-increasing cycle where they all know one another through social media and they try to outdo one another — stealing flags, damaging monuments — you name it,“ he said.
“Anything’s fair game with them. They basically try and wind the other side up. And that’s happening both sides.
“It’s just a never-ending vicious circle.
“Education is needed on both sides. We need to show that people can enjoy their own culture without offending somebody else’s.”
The incident comes just days after Irish tricolours and Palestinian flags were burned at a bonfire in Derry’s Fountain Estate over the weekend.
The bonfire was held as part of the “Relief of Londonderry 1689 celebrations” on Friday.