There has been a fresh call for regulations on bonfires following the appearance of effigies of female politicians on an Eleventh night pyre in Co Antrim.
Effigies of the Alliance leader and Justice Minister Naomi Long appeared on the bonfire at Glenfield in Carrickfergus alongside Sinn Fein leaders Mary Lou McDonald and Michelle O'Neill.
The PSNI said it is aware of the images and are investigating.
Read more: Condemnation after effigies of female politicians appear on Eleventh Night bonfire
The incident led to widespread condemnation from across the political spectrum.
Ms Long said pictures of the Glenfield bonfire made her feel "sad and depressed that there are people in our community that harbour such vile hatred of anyone else".
Sinn Féin North Belfast MLA Gerry Kelly said that the presence of effigies on bonfires was "wrong, deeply offensive" and a "hate crime".
DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson described the effigies of female politicians on the bonfire as "unjustifiable" and "indefensible".
Sir Jeffrey said he was more than happy to go to Carrickfergus to talk to community representatives. He called on the people responsible to "desist", saying that "political protest" should not be mixed with cultural expression.
"Displaying effigies of serving political leaders with the inference that they should be hung for their political views is wrong, it is unjustifiable, it is indefensible and it has no part in my culture as someone who is proud of my Ulster-British identity," he told the BBC on Thursday.
The DUP leader said he had met and would continue to meet with community groups and leaders to "hear their perspective".
"I will be very clear with anyone I speak to, that it harms our culture., it harms our identity, it harms our political position when you engage in activities that draw attention away from the positive aspects of our culture," he said.
"At the same time is offensive to others and I think even threatening to others."
Earlier Alliance MLA Kellie Armstrong said she would also support regulations being put in place around bonfires
Ms Armstrong said: "To see a friend, your party leader, and others hanging from gallows from a bonfire while there's pictures of children standing beside it and adults with them is devastating. It's horrific and it's something that should not happen.
"I've had many calls from people from the unionist community disgusted by those images who have said that is not their culture and it's not. It's not unionist culture to hang politicians from bonfires even though it's effigies."
The Strangford MLA added: "It's time that we had regulations and I think a lot of people who celebrate on the Eleventh night would welcome that because there have been very successful bonfires and celebrations across Northern Ireland that don't have this type of imagery, political posters or flags, being burnt on bonfires.
"There have been fantastic events but to have some with this type of depiction is disgusting. It can only lead to one thing and that is more regulation to make sure that people are safe and that those celebrations are respectful of all."
Last December, a report dealing with flags and culture in Northern Ireland was published after a delay of nearly two years.
Stormont had set up a commission in 2016 to find consensus on contentious cultural issues.
Despite making some general recommendations, the Commission on Flags, Identity, Culture and Tradition (FICT) stated that many specific "challenges remain" around flags, bonfires and memorials.
On bonfires, the commission recommended that the Executive should recognise that "bonfires are an important aspect of the culture, identity and tradition of communities and are therefore a legitimate form of celebration or commemoration, provided they are compliant with the law".
Ms Armstrong added: “We already have a report produced by the FICT. The recommendations of that go in some way to outlining what we could do. Not stopping bonfires, but to have them more respectful to everyone who is not of that cultural tradition.”
READ NEXT:
'Sectarian' bonfires condemned after flags and political posters burnt
- Corrie star Charlie Lawson lights Co Tyrone bonfire as he appears on GB News Twelfth coverage
- Craigyhill bonfire builders 'break world record' for largest ever pyre
For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here. To sign up to our FREE newsletters, see here.
