US flag saved from bonfire returned to school

A historical US flag stolen from the grounds of a school built on the site of a former American naval base has been returned after it was recovered from a bonfire in Londonderry.

The flag was taken from Foyle College on the city’s Limavady Road in early July.

On Monday, independent Derry City and Strabane District councillor Gary Donnelly said he believed the flag had been removed from the bonfire after efforts to have it saved.

Foyle College confirmed on Tuesday that the flag had now been handed back to the school.

The school thanked those involved in securing the safe return of the flag.

“We hope its safe return will play a part in improving mutual understanding across our shared society and assist efforts to build a more peaceful future,” a statement said.

The school said “given the sensitivity surrounding this process”, it would be making no further comment.

Police have said inquiries into the theft of the flag are ongoing.

The flag was gifted to the school by members of the former US naval communications station.

It was last officially flown at the base in November 1963 to mark President Kennedy’s death and more than half a century later in 2019 was presented to Foyle College which had moved to the site the year before.

Police have said they are investigating the placing of materials on the bonfires, which were lit in the Creggan and Bogside areas of Derry on Friday night, including flags and wreaths, as sectarian hate crimes and sectarian hate incidents.

On Monday it was reported that a last-ditch attempt to save a flag stolen from Londonderry’s Protestant cathedral from being burned on a bonfire in the city had failed.