Wreath burning was hate-filled sacrilege

Bigots stole several wreaths from the Cenotaph - where hundreds gathered in tribute to the Fallen on Remembrance Sunday - before torching them in the Bogside in the early hours of Wednesday.

The Royal British Legion expressed deep disappointment at the desecration which is now under investigation by the PSNI.

Les Boyd, Chairman of the Waterside branch of the Legion told the Sentinel: “It is very sad to hear of this completely senseless incident.

“War Memorials honour the memory of Service personnel who have made the ultimate sacrifice and those who defend the freedom we enjoy. I would urge anyone with any information to contact the police.”

DUP MLA William Hay said it was “unbelievable” some people in the city could view such a sacred place of remembrance with such hatred.

“It’s unthinkable that we still have people in this city who can go into a Cenotaph - a very sacred area for many, many people - to go into a Cenotaph and do what they do.

“To remove the wreaths, take the wreaths away and actually burn the wreaths that they’ve taken from the Cenotaph. It has to be condemned,” he said.

“It’s unbelievable that in the days we live in we still have people who see the Cenotaph as a place of hatred for them,” said Mr Hay.

UUP Alderman Mary Hamilton spoke of her disbelief at the attack.

“I can’t believe it that anybody can’t let the dead rest in peace. Maybe their grandfathers or their great grandfathers fought and fell in one of the two world wars- died so that we would have a better life.

“And to think that they have done that. What respect do they have for the dead?” she asked.

Mayor Alderman Maurice Devenney said the hateful act was in stark contrast to the scenes witnessed in the Diamond on Remembrance Sunday.

“It’s very disrespectful,” said the Mayor. “It has to be condemned. Of course, we know that 99.99 per cent of the community would condemn it and we hope now that information will be made available to the PSNI to help apprehend those responsible.

“We had a very good attendance on Sunday for the many people from this city who paid the ultimate sacrifice but to see this happen a few days afterwards is very disappointing.

“You’d have to say that if these people looked into their own history they may well find that they had relatives who served in the wars.”

Foyle MP Mark Durkan said: “This act is sacrilegious. It offends the memory of all those honoured and remembered on Remembrance Sunday. It also insults those who have respected them and tarnishes the city.

“I strongly appeal to anyone with information about who is responsible for this incident to contact the PSNI immediately.”

Sinn Féin councillor Mickey Cooper said: “It beggars belief that anyone would even contemplate doing this sort of thing. What happened here is totally wrong.

“There can be no place in our society for this kind of desecration or vandalism. It should not be used as an excuse by anyone to go out and do something similar or heighten tensions in any community. Each of us has our own culture and we must learn to respect those cultures equally.”

The PSNI say they are reviewing CCTV after several wreaths were removed from the Cenotaph and set on fire at Free Derry Corner during the early hours of November 16.