The statement was posted on his Facebook page

A BONFIRE builder has issued an apology after hurling online sectarian abuse at Irish News readers.

In a message posted on his Facebook page, Macauley McKinney said he regrets his "unacceptable" comments.

The 21-year-old spoke on television last week to defend blocking a public car park in east Belfast with a loyalist pyre.

But on Monday he branded Irish News readers "a bunch of fenian keyboard freaks" after the paper reported on his past convictions, including a fine for stealing pallets.

Responding to Facebook users commenting on The Irish News page, he wrote: "Your nothing but a bunch of fenian keyboard freaks who all hide behind there phones if you've something to say come to the walkway (sic)!"

He also directed abuse at an Irish News reporter – who had earlier contacted him online for comment on his TV appearance but did not receive a response – after the paper highlighted his prior convictions on Saturday.

In a Facebook message to the journalist, he wrote: "See you yah fenian keyboard freak your nothing but a dirty storytelling scumbag (sic)."

But yesterday, McKinney said: "Over the course of recent days I have made a number of comments that I now regret.

"I was extremely angry and frustrated by recent media coverage and the events surrounding our local bonfire."

He added: "I am a young man who is passionate about my culture and who puts a lot of work every year into building our bonfire.

"This is a huge part of my life and I feel that there is reluctance on the part of the media to hear this story.

"All I and my friends continuously read is demonisation of local bonfires, this makes us angry and as a result I allowed this anger to overflow into unacceptable comments."

McKinney claimed there has been a "continuous attack on expressions of unionist culture from what I perceive to be a pan-nationalist coalition, operating under the banner of 'progressives'".

The statement was posted on his Facebook page

"When politicians demonise our bonfires they are not demonising wood, they are demonising young people such as myself," he said.

Some internet users questioned if McKinney had received any help in writing his statement, and pointed the finger at Jamie Bryson.

However, asked on Twitter if he had written the statement, the loyalist blogger said: "Don't be so ridiculous."

McKinney was interviewed on BBC Newsline last week about a bonfire being built in a car park at Bloomfield Walkway.

The site on the Upper Newtownards Road has been at the centre of controversy over Belfast City Council storing thousands of pallets for bonfire builders.

Some 2,500 pallets were held for the Walkway area and around 300 for a pyre near a city centre hotel – and were due to be returned before the Eleventh Night.

The stored Walkway pallets were later stolen from council property – prompting a police investigation.

Macauley McKinney posted the comments on Facebook after The Irish News highlighted his previous convictions

McKinney told the BBC they "had an agreement with the council" and felt "let down".

It later emerged that in 2015 he was fined for stealing pallets for a pyre, and was also convicted in the same year of stealing wreaths from a republican memorial.