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Watchdog never probed loyalist bonfire payments scandal

Ex-UUP MLA Adrian Cochrane-Watson later blamed The Irish News for tyres being used on this year's Ballycraigy bonfire
Ex-UUP MLA Adrian Cochrane-Watson later blamed The Irish News for tyres being used on this year's Ballycraigy bonfire Ex-UUP MLA Adrian Cochrane-Watson later blamed The Irish News for tyres being used on this year's Ballycraigy bonfire

A COUNCIL watchdog never probed a loyalist bonfire payments scandal because the local authority wouldn't name a former councillor embroiled in the controversy.

Last year The Irish News revealed how thousands of pounds intended for family events over the Twelfth were instead used to buy petrol and wooden pallets.

There were also concerns over Ulster Unionist Adrian Cochrane-Watson's role in awarding a bouncy castle enterprise he is involved in almost £11,000 from the bonfire fund.

Antrim and Newtownabbey council commissioned an audit of the funding scheme for bonfire groups amid the revelations.

The report heavily criticised the initiative operated under the old Antrim Borough Council for exposing public money to an "increased risk of fraud".

It also expressed concern over Mr Cochrane-Watson's role in Bouncy King while sitting on the committee that oversaw the bonfire scheme.

The former MLA, who failed to be re-elected to Stormont in May, insisted that he never financially benefited from the "social economy enterprise".

The audit report did not name Mr Cochrane-Watson or Bouncy King, but referred only to 'Councillor A' and 'Supplier A'.

The council sent the redacted audit report to the local government ombudsman earlier this year.

It received a response from then deputy ombudsman Marie Anderson, who is now the new public services ombudsman.

She wrote: "The commissioner may only investigate matters brought to his attention by way of a written complaint against a named councillor."

The matter was not taken further and it's understood no subsequent complaints were made.

An Antrim and Newtownabbey council spokeswoman said: "The ombudsman's office can only take action if a formal complaint about a named councillor is submitted to them. The internal audit report was sent to the ombudsman for information only.

"Upon receipt of the ombudsman's letter dated January 13 2016 the council resolved that members would respond to this letter on an individual/party political basis."

The council devised a fresh funding programme for 2016 amid the controversy.

It offers community groups funding for related family events in exchange for not using tyres and other environmentally harmful materials on bonfires.

But several bonfire groups did not sign up to the new scheme, which has tighter controls on spending.

Last month Mr Cochrane-Watson blamed The Irish News for thousands of tyres being used on Ballycraigy estate bonfire in Antrim.

It came after the newspaper revealed police encouraged Antrim council to fund the Ballycraigy group despite a PSNI investigation into the bonfire's racist and sectarian displays.

According to council minutes, funding for 2014 was approved after police were "urging council support" for payments to the group.

Mr Cochrane-Watson said the council's "good work" had been undone "thanks to people like The Irish News – and look at the 5,000 to 6,000, maybe 10,000 tyres".