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Man Dies Falling From Belfast Bonfire; Ceremony Persists

7/12/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Organizers will still light the Braniel Eleventh Night bonfire on Saturday, honoring the family’s wishes with a minute’s silence.
Warren Lyttle, a man in his 40s, died after falling from the bonfire in east Belfast.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland opened an investigation and notified the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland.

History

Historical Context

On 23 September 1912 Sir Edward Carson signed the Ulster Covenant at Belfast City Hall, a protest joined by 471,414 unionists opposed to Home Rule. The pledge spurred the Ulster Volunteer Force, which in January 1913 began recruiting 100,000 men as a militia. That militant legacy still influences Ulster’s cultural practices and safety debates.

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Story summary

Organizers will still light the Braniel Eleventh Night bonfire on Saturday, honoring the family’s wishes with a minute’s silence.
Warren Lyttle, a man in his 40s, died after falling from the bonfire in east Belfast.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland opened an investigation and notified the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland.

1 / 2