A LOYALIST bonfire which was widely condemned after a replica of a mosque was placed on top was lit before police could remove the display.

The smouldering remains of the bonfire were continuing to burn in the village of Moygashel, Co Tyrone, Friday morning.

Political and religious leaders had criticised the placing of the mosque on top of the fire, which had been scheduled to be lit on Friday night, and police had faced calls to act.

Signs saying “Secure our borders” and “End the threat of radical Islam” were also placed on the pyre.

Shortly after midnight, in a social media post, the Moygashel Bonfire Association said: “Due to confirmation of contractors moving in and removing the bonfire, the decision has been made to light it asap.”

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said it had “commenced a significant and complex policing operation to remove a hate display from the Moygashel bonfire.”

It said the operation was at an “advanced stage when the bonfire was lit.”

Brian Conrad Neill, 56, of Hollow Mills, Newmills, Dungannon, appeared in court on Friday charged with incitement to hatred.

Mr Neill’s lawyer told the court that his client did not know a replica of a mosque was under a tarpaulin that he helped place on top of the pyre on Wednesday night.

He was refused bail.

“The people who run this particular bonfire have a clear agenda, it is an agenda full of hate and bigotry towards others,” District judge Barney McElholm told the court.