Justice Minister Naomi Long has condemned the appearance of effigies of female politicians including herself on an Eleventh night bonfire in Co Antrim.
Effigies of the Alliance leader appeared on the bonfire at Glenfield in Carrickfergus alongside Sinn Fein leaders Mary Lou McDonald and Michelle O'Neill.
Images of the bonfire have been widely shared on social media.
Read more: 'Sectarian' bonfires condemned after flags and political posters burnt
Mrs Long, whose election posters were placed on a bonfire off the Cregagh Road in East Belfast, tweeted today: "So, having become accustomed to seeing my posters burned on bonfires, I honestly thought nothing could shock me anymore.
"However, late last night I received photos of effigies of me, @moneillsf and @MaryLouMcDonald hanged on the bonfire at Glenfield in Carrickfergus.
"I'm not sharing the images due to risk of distressing families who have lost loved ones by suicide. And because they are utterly sick. I will, however, be sharing them and the pictures of the bonfire builders standing proudly in front of their creation with the police."
She added: "These were not last minute additions. There are photos of a children's 'fun day' taking place at this fire while our effigies were hanging on it. Some local businesses even sponsored it. What kind of parent would see that and think it's acceptable for their child to see?
"I felt physically sick at those photos - not just at the effigies but at the festering hatred and sectarianism they represent; hatred that not only persists in our community but is being passed on to the next generation as normal. This has to stop. Our children deserve better."
Her party colleague Stephen Farry called it “absolutely disgusting”.
"Solidarity with Naomi and everyone else threatened and abused on bonfires,” he added.
Sinn Féin MLA Gerry Kelly also condemned the appearance of effigies of his party leaders on the same pyre.
He said: “The burning of flags, posters and effigies which included First Minister Elect Michelle O’Neill, [Mary Lou McDonald] and other political figures on bonfires is wrong, deeply offensive and is a hate crime.
“Sinn Féin has reported a number of hate crimes to the PSNI related to bonfires.
“There is an onus on unionist political and community leaders to stand up against these displays of sectarian hatred and make it clear that there is no place for them in this society.
“The silence from some senior unionist leaders has been deafening.
“It is also simply not good enough for bonfire builders to say that they ‘took a democratic decision’ to commit hate crimes.
“The police say they have been gathering evidence on these hate crimes, what the public needs to see is action.
“All this highlights the need for safeguarding regulations around bonfires which has become an imperative.
“No bonfire should pose a threat to the safety of people, property or the environment or be an excuse for people to vent hate.”
The party's south Down Sinn Fein MP Chris Hazzard called it “premeditated, despicable hatred”.
“During the Assembly election campaign a number of our billboards in South Down were damaged as the faces of Michelle & Mary Lou were cut out with a knife,” he tweeted.
“We knew they would probably turn up further down the line.”
DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson also condemned the displays.
“Whilst the overwhelming number of Twelfth celebrations were hugely successful, some events require further work and other displays must be outrightly condemned as wrong,” he said.
“Throughout my lifetime I have had the privilege to celebrate and educate others about my identity all over the world. At no point has burning posters, flags or pictures of serving politicians featured as part of that.
“Nor has slogans or displays that advocate sectarian violence against anyone in this society regardless of their political position or religious views.
“I was also horrified to learn of Twelfth decorations being destroyed in Co Tyrone and other hate crimes against the loyal orders having to be investigated across the province. We have a rich Ulster-British cultural identity. I want people to focus on celebrating and displaying our culture rather than denigrating others.
“When republican terrorists waged a campaign of hate against people of my faith, I condemned and stood against it. When anyone tries to incite hate, I will call it out and stand foursquare against it.
“All politicians in Northern Ireland must be consistent in their condemnation of hate.”
UUP leader Doug Beattie branded the displays "utterly vile".
He added: "Hanging effigies on bonfires does not represent the union and unionist culture I believe in. Staying silent cannot be an option."
A PSNI spokesperson said it is "aware of images which have emerged showing effigies placed on a bonfire in Carrickfergus and are investigating".
There has been widespread condemnation of "sectarian bonfires" as flags, political posters and threatening messages were burnt at sites across Northern Ireland.
A number of bonfire sites have been pictured displaying the Irish Tricolour, political posters from a range of different parties and offensive and threatening slogans on July 11, with one councillor saying that he had to explain to his children why he was due to be burnt.
The bonfires took place at various sites across Northern Ireland and followed a call from unionist politicians to refrain from doing so as a way of showing respect for others in their and neighbouring communities.
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