Bobby Storey Sinn Fein fallout: Don’t fall into trap of building bonfires, DUP MP Gavin Robinson tells loyalists

East Belfast MP Gavin Robinson has warned that even well intentioned bonfire builders are likely to end up holding a event which is “unmanageable” and thus likely to break Coronavirus restrictions.
By Philip Bradfield
Published 7th Jul 2020, 18:24 BST
Updated 8th Jul 2020, 08:46 BST
Preparations are made for an 11th night bonfire in Belfast. Photo: Liam McBurney/PA WirePreparations are made for an 11th night bonfire in Belfast. Photo: Liam McBurney/PA Wire
Preparations are made for an 11th night bonfire in Belfast. Photo: Liam McBurney/PA Wire

Mr Robinson was speaking after loyalist voices in east Belfast encouraged the building of July bonfires in the wake of leading Sinn Fein Ministers apparently breaching Coronavirus regulations by attending the funeral of leading republican Bobby Storey.

The DUP MP noted that some loyalists had therefore adopted the attitude they will “do whatever we want”.

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But his message to those people, he said, would be: “Do not fall into that trap. Do not shift the focus from where it should lie and that is very squarely against those that breached the coronavirus regulations.”

The lawyer acknowledged that the regulations do not specifically mention bonfires, but that they do limit outdoor events to 30 people.

However even “well intentioned” bonfire organisers will find it “incredibly hard” to limit the numbers of people attending a bonfire, he said. And that opens the door to for organising an event which is “ultimately unmanageable”.

He added: “And so in recognising an historical victory in 1690, I see no political benefit in inflicting a self defeat on the unionist community by throwing all the concerns and protections to the wind.”

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Also speaking to BBC Talkback, South Belfast SDLP MP Clare Hanna commended Mr Robinson for his position, adding: “If a bonfire is built it will attract people, that is the purpose of it, and that will be an unregulated scenario.”

Sinn Fein’s attitude to the regulations was “exceptionalism” she said.

“What really worries people is that feeling of having some sort of extreme political viewpoint is some sort of protected equality status.”

Leading east Belfast cleric Rev Mervyn Gibson has also urged loyalists to abandon efforts to build bonfires and instead stick to Covid-19 regulations.

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