A local council believed to be facing legal action over the death of a man who fell from an Eleventh Night bonfire has been told it should not allow any more pyres to be built on its land.
Mid and East Antrim councillor Sinn Féin councillor Ian Friary said the local authority has a duty of care to residents and ratepayers in the borough.
He was speaking after elected representatives were briefed on the council's legal position heading into the bonfire season this year.
It is understood there are currently 19 loyalist bonfires being built on council controlled land across the borough, including Craigyhill bonfire in Larne.
Read more: What are eleventh night bonfires?
The huge pyre is just a short distance from where 36-year-old John Steele fell to his death while helping to build a bonfire in the Antiville area last year.
Last week, Guinness World Records confirmed it has no plans to send an adjudicator to the Craigyhill Eleventh Night bonfire.
A pyre at the same site last year reached a height of around 202ft - which organisers claim is an unofficial world record.
They say last year's height was not officially recognised as the cost of bringing a Guinness World Record adjudicator to the site was too high.
Mr Steele, was an experienced bonfire builder and had been involved in helping to construct the local pyre for many years.
The ground on which the bonfire was being built is owned by Mid and East Antrim Borough Council.
It is understood a member of the council's legal team attended Wednesday's council meeting and briefed representatives on the current legal position.
It is understood legal representatives advised against allowing bonfires to take place on council property.
Sinn Féin group leader at the council Ian Friary said that after last year's tragic death the council can "no longer delay on taking the right course of action".
"Where council owns land it will ultimately be held liable for any risks, regardless of who builds the bonfire," he said.
Mr Friar added that while everyone has a right to celebrate their culture and identity "this must be done in a way that is safe for local communities".
“Other councillors and some political parties seem determined to sit on their hands and turn a blind eye to the risks involved," he said.
"That in my view will cause our council more problems than taking the right course of action, which is to protect life, property and the environment.”
Mid and East Antrim Borough Council was contacted.
