There were angry exchanges during a meeting of Derry City and Strabane District Counil this afternoon when the setting fire to an effigy of the traitor Lundy at the end of the Apprentice Boys of Derry celebrations in the city was described as the “burning of an oversized doll.”
Every December, thousands of Apprentice Boys parade through Derry to mark the Siege of Derry.
The day long event ends at sunset with a giant effigy with the placard “Lundy the Traitor” hung and burned in front of thousands close to the city’s courthouse on Bishop Street.
However, Independent Councillor hit out at the annual event, describing it as the “burning of an oversized doll.”
His comments came during a discussion this afternoon on a survey presented at a recent council meeting which revealed the majority of people living in the Meenan Park area of the Bogside did not want bonfires close to their homes.
Cllr Donnelly said a similar survey should be carried out to see if city centre businesses supported an event which saw the city “sealed off” on one of the busiest shopping days of the year so that thousands of people could watch the “burning of an oversized doll.”
DUP Alderman Drew Thompson hit out at Cllr Donnelly’s comments describing them as an “insult” to the unionist community.
He was supported by Independent Unionist Maurice Devenney who said the Apprentice Boys put in “months and months of work” ahead of the annual event,
Cllr Donnelly replied stating he had not intended to “upset unionism” but if it was good enough to do a survey in the Bogside, then it should be good enough to do one or the city centre.
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