A Sinn Fein councillor has called for the PSNI to explain its actions after endorsing funding for a loyalist bonfire being investigated for a hate crime.
Anne Marie Logue said she was shocked to discover that police approved payment to a bonfire group in Ballycraigy in Antrim months after an effigy of a hanged Gerry Adams was pictured on the pyre last year.
Groups in the Antrim area can apply to receive council funding of up to £3,000 for bonfire-related events.
Payments are normally released in stages after approval by a council committee that includes councillors, community representatives and two PSNI officers.
Committee minutes show members debated whether to give money to the Muckamore and Ballycraigy bonfire group following last July's controversial pyre.
However, members noted that despite the displays it had not broken the terms of the council's bonfire events funding criteria, which focuses on safety and environmental concerns.
The minutes read: "Both PSNI officers present were appreciative and supportive of the efforts of local residents leading up to and post event, urging council support and indicating that the group's relationship with the PSNI had improved enormously in the last year and that they were actively continuing to co-operate with the police."
The committee also said progress and positive efforts of residents should "not be penalised by the unacceptable actions of several people", according to minutes of the meeting last November.
It decided unanimously to approve funding of more than £2,500, a decision later supported by the full council.
The Ballycraigy bonfire caused uproar again this year ahead of the Twelfth.
Effigies of Sinn Féin's Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness were placed on the pyre alongside a figure of hunger striker Bobby Sands in a coffin.
Ms Logue said she was aware that a complaint was made to the PSNI about last year's bonfire, which also featured a banner with a racist slur and a rainbow flag associated with gay rights.
She said party colleagues were told a hate crime investigation was launched and she understood an arrest had been made late last year.
"We have police sitting in a meeting after widespread criticism from the public and further afield, and endorsing a payment and praising the efforts of residents," she said.
"I think the police need to be objective in any issues to do with bonfires."
Almost 20 bonfire groups received money last year within the Antrim and Newtownabbey council area.
A response by the council to a freedom of information request about funding of bonfire events, issued in May, did not include details of the money given to Ballycraigy.
The council last night said payment to the Ballycraigy group was made in May this year after being ratified by the council in February.
A spokeswoman said funding provided to groups under the bonfire management programme supports "family fun events linked to participation in the bonfire management programme".
The bonfire management programmes used by the old councils, which were replaced by the new super council in April, remained in place this year's Twelfth.
But the council spokeswoman said a review to agree criteria for 2016 will begin next month.
The PSNI said it was unable to comment last night.
Last month the force suggested prosecutions over election posters and effigies on bonfires were unlikely because the evidence had been burned.
Assistant Chief Constable Stephen Martin said some of the material was "clearly distasteful and offensive".
But he added: "These items were destroyed on the bonfires and it is unlikely there will be any evidential material to progress."
