MAN DIES AFTER FALLING FROM ELEVENTH NIGHT BONFIRE IN BELFAST

Warren Lyttle, a man in his 40s, died after falling from a bonfire on the Braniel estate in east Belfast on Friday night. He was taken to hospital following the incident and died from his injuries on Saturday. The Police Service of Northern Ireland received a report of his death at 4.40pm on Saturday 11 July. Police said they are investigating the circumstances of the fall, and the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland has been informed.

The incident occurred during celebrations connected to the Eleventh Night, when bonfires are traditionally lit across Northern Ireland before the Orange Order's 12 July parades. The Braniel Bonfire Committee, Braniel Loyal Flute Band and Braniel Community Group released a statement expressing sympathy for Lyttle's family and friends. Following discussions with his family, the committee said the bonfire would be lit as planned on Saturday night, with organisers asking attendees to observe a minute's silence in his memory before the fire was ignited. A number of Eleventh Night bonfires were lit across Northern Ireland on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings.

While most bonfires pass without incident, some have become the subject of contention over their contents. A bonfire in Moygashel, County Tyrone, which featured a replica of a mosque, was lit on Thursday before police could remove the display. A man appeared in court on Friday charged with incitement to hatred in connection with that incident.