A COUNCIL has admitted it should not have released funding running to thousands of pounds for pallets burnt on loyalist bonfires.
Payments were made "in error" to three groups in Antrim to buy wooden pallets.
Council guidelines say bonfire groups should only receive funding for related 'family fun events' – but not for the building of pyres.
In total more than £6,300 of ratepayers' cash was spent by the former Antrim borough council over two years for pallets used on Eleventh night bonfires.
Almost £1,000 was also spent on wood, fuel and vehicle hire to help construct bonfires and a further £2,600 on flute bands to perform at them.
The revelation follows anger over offensive displays on other loyalist bonfires across the north, including a pyre in Ballycraigy in Antrim at the centre of a police hate crime investigation.
The funding for pallets was approved for three groups in the Antrim council area last year and in 2013 – Parkhall Upper Community Association, Steeple Festival Group and Stiles Cultural Group.
A fourth group, Balloo Community Association, claimed £930 in 2013 for wood, fuel and the hire of a vehicle to help build their bonfire.
Bonfire groups in the Antrim area can apply for council funding of up to £3,000 for related events over the Twelfth period.
Funding criteria focuses on tackling safety and environmental concerns but does not address offensive or sectarian displays on bonfires.
Antrim council's bonfire group payment guidelines say that "funding must only be used by the event organisers to develop associated family orientated events".
The payments for pallets were uncovered in a freedom of information request to Antrim and Newtownabbey council by nationalist political commentator Chris Donnelly.
He called for the local government auditor to investigate.
"The fact that thousands of pounds of ratepayers' money is being given to loyalists to purchase pallets to be burnt on bonfires is an insult to ordinary ratepayers and once again highlights the urgent need to licence and regulate all bonfires, to not only remove the deeply sectarian – and at times racist – dimension of these annual gatherings, but to also ensure that residents of council areas do not see their rates literally going up in flames on the early hours of every Twelfth of July."
He added: "The idea that bonfires, which provoke controversy and harm community relations on an annual basis, are being funded in such a reckless manner should cause concern to people from all political perspectives."
Antrim and Newtownabbey council said the payments for buying pallets were "authorised in error".
The bonfire management programmes used by the old councils, which were replaced by the new merged council in April, remained in place during this year's Twelfth.
The new council is currently reviewing its policies in a bid to agree criteria for 2016.
A council spokeswoman said: "Bonfire management programmes were operated by both the legacy councils of Antrim and Newtownabbey. Under the Newtownabbey model, services were procured by the council in relation to the family fun events on July 11 and 12. The Antrim model was based on payments being made to groups who in turn paid suppliers.
"Following an analysis of the expenditure incurred during the 2013 and 2014 years, it was identified that payments had been released to three groups in Antrim relating to the purchase of pallets. Payments in relation to the purchase of pallets do not relate to expenditure for a family fun event and were authorised in error.
"The purpose of the bonfire management programme is to encourage bonfire builders to reduce environmental damage by, for example not burning tyres or other hazardous materials, improve health and safety and promote events as family friendly. Sites that adhere to the protocol can then in turn, through a constituted group, access funding for an Eleventh night or July 12 family fun event.
"A review of the bonfire management programme is currently underway and will result in the production of a new policy for 2016 and beyond."
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:: Facepaint and flute bands: How bonfire groups spend council funding
BONFIRE groups in Co Antrim have claimed almost £85,000 in two years in council funding – including payments for pallets, petrol, facepaint and flute bands.
Almost 20 bonfire groups in the Antrim and Newtownabbey council area received money for bonfire-related events held during 2013 and 2014.
Last year one group in Newtownabbey hosting events for the Twelfth claimed £650 for facepainting.
Overall more than £3,700 was claimed for facepainting across 11 bonfire groups in the last two years.
Bouncy castle hire cost almost £18,500, while groups also claimed nearly £5,000 for DJs and £4,700 for fireworks.
Antrim council guidelines say bonfire groups can only receive funding for related "family orientated events" – but not for the building of bonfires.
Despite this, funding to pay for pallets was approved for three bonfire groups in the Antrim council area last year and in 2013.
A fourth group claimed £930 in 2013 for wood, fuel and the hire of a vehicle to help build their bonfire.
The group also claimed £20 for petrol, according to a freedom of information request to Antrim and Newtownabbey council.
Seven groups received a total of £2,600 from the council to pay flute bands who performed at pyres.
Antrim and Newtownabbey council said the payments for buying pallets were "authorised in error".
The new council is currently reviewing its policies in a bid to agree criteria for 2016.
