A LOYALIST bonfire group which held an unauthorised "fun day" to coincide with the funeral of Martin McGuinness on land owned by Belfast City Council will not face any disciplinary action.
Sydenham Bonfire Group in east Belfast faced an investigation after holding the party without council permission at Inverary Playing Fields on March 23, the same afternoon that the former deputy first minister was being buried in Derry.
The group provided flags, burgers, bouncy castles and face painting at the event, which it advertised as a "cultural" fun day "key to diffusing tensions by providing a release valve for those within the community understandably hurt and angry by the portrayal of Martin McGuiness as a peacemaker".
In a Facebook post after it was announced that the council was investigating the fun day, the organisers wrote: "As we made clear at the time the core purpose of this event was a diversionary one, to provide a safe space for young people that otherwise may have sought to congregate at interfaces and voice their anger there."
They added: "As those gathered in Londonderry indulged in revisionism and acquiesced to the presentation of an unrepentant terrorist as a 'peacemaker', we in East Belfast remembered the countless hundreds murdered at the hands of McGuinness's IRA."
Asked for details of the outcome of the investigation, Belfast City Council said those responsible for allowing use of the facilities "have been reminded about the terms of use and their obligations".
It is understood that the council operates Inverary Playing Fields under a partnership agreement with East Belfast Football Club.
A council spokeswoman said: "The Fun Day held at Inverary was not authorised by Belfast City Council.
"The event was organised by a third party and not the organisation which holds an agreement with Belfast City Council for the use of the facilities.
"Notwithstanding, the holders of the agreement for use have been reminded about the terms of use and their obligations."
Last year The Irish News reported on concerns raised by parents of children playing football games at the pitches, where a UVF paramilitary mural had been painted behind one of the goals.
However, earlier this year East Belfast FC announced that the UVF mural would be replaced by artwork celebrating the football club.
