Asbestos ‘fragments’ remain on site of contentious 2025 bonfire – NIEA

A site in Belfast which hosted a loyalist bonfire last year still contains “fragments of asbestos” following the completion of remediation work, an environmental assessment has found.

The Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) has warned that the public should stay off the privately-owned land at Meridi Street in the south of the city for “public health reasons”.

It has also confirmed that an environmental crime investigation at the site off the Donegall Road is continuing.

A contentious bonfire on the site last summer was the focus of health warnings, political rows and legal challenges before it was ignited on the Eleventh night.

In a statement released to the Press Association, the NIEA said since May 2025 it has been “focused on the landowner’s efforts to remove the asbestos safely from the site”.

It added: “Asbestos is particularly dangerous when disturbed, making its professional removal, with considerations around public safety, a highly specialised, complex, delicate, and time-consuming operation.

“Removal of the asbestos commenced on August 4 2025 following an initial delay to allow for the site to be fully secured.

“The landowner’s remediation work on the site concluded on November 21 2025, and NIEA appointed an independent environmental consultant to carry out an assessment of this work.

“The preliminary report of the independent assessment has confirmed the remaining presence of fragments of asbestos on the site, which were left behind after the landowner’s remediation work.”

The NIEA said the material “currently presents minimal risk” within the secure site.

But it added: “These risks increase where members of the public trespass onto this privately owned land.

“For public health reasons, NIEA urges that unauthorised persons should not, under any circumstances access this site.

“Unauthorised access to the site could amount to a criminal offence.”

The statement said: “NIEA will continue to work with the landowners, Belfast City Council, the Public Health Agency, the PSNI and other partners on this matter.

“Due to the fact that this matter is subject to ongoing legal proceedings, NIEA is unable to comment further.”

Safety concerns were raised over asbestos at the site ahead of the bonfire being lit there last summer.

The location is also close to an electricity substation which powers two hospitals.

The PSNI last year declined a request from Belfast City Council to remove the bonfire before it was set alight.

The NIEA said at the time that suspected asbestos had been found at five locations on the bonfire site and 20kg of material was removed.

Environment Minister Andrew Muir later said he was “very disappointed” that the Eleventh Night bonfire was lit despite public safety warnings over the site.