Bonfire row - public money used for pallets, fuel and bands #BBCNolan

A council has admitted it should not have released funding running to thousands of pounds for pallets burnt on loyalist bonfires. More than £6,300 of ratepayers' cash was spent by the former Antrim borough council over two years on pallets for Eleventh night bonfires. This was in Saturday's Irish News from an FOI submitted by Slugger O'Toole blogger - Chris Donnelly. In addition - almost £1,000 was also spent on wood, fuel and vehicle hire to help construct bonfires and a further £3,000 on flute bands and lambeg drummers to perform at them. The council told the Irish News the payments were made "in error". Antrim council's bonfire group payment guidelines say that "funding must only be used by the event organisers to develop associated family orientated events". Stephen spoke to UUP Councillor, Drew Ritchie and SDLP councillor Thomas Burns