A council has been criticised over funding given to a community group for "diversionary" events linked to a bonfire which led to the boarding up of a library.
Belfast City Council awarded more than £41,000 to Charter NI from a festivals fund aimed at reducing anti-social behaviour associated with July and August bonfires.
As part of its "summer diversionary programme", the East Belfast community organisation promoted the lighting of an Eleventh Night bonfire.
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It was built beside Tullycarnet Library, which had its windows boarded up and glazing removed to protect it from the flames and heat.
Similar precautionary measures at the library last year cost the public more than £10,000, Belfast Live revealed.
It emerges at a time when Libraries NI, the public body responsible for libraries, is making cutbacks due to funding pressures.
A 12-day events programme, ending on the Eleventh Night with the "main bonfire being lit", was advertised online by the Tullycarnet Action Group (Tagit).
Its Facebook page, which includes a Charter NI email as its contact address, had posted pictures of the bonfire under construction with the boarded up library in the background.
One image appeared to show a wooden sign at the base of the pyre which read "Tullycarnet UFF" and included images of two gunmen.
People Before Profit said it was "unacceptable that the public continues to pick up the bill for such destructive and environmentally toxic bonfires".
It said Belfast City Council and other public bodies have "consistently failed to deal with" bonfire issues.
"People Before Profit defends the right of community organisations to avail of public funding, but have consistently challenged the communal carve-up of council funds," a party spokesman said.
"Questions must also be asked about the funding of activities linked to bonfires adorned with paramilitary slogans.
"We reject attempts by the political establishment to portray these kinds of activities as harmless expressions of culture."
The party added: "In East Belfast, and right across the north, we have a proud and radical tradition of working-class Protestants who have stood and continue to stand with their Catholic neighbours in common struggle.
"Now more than ever, we need to renew the kind of class politics that unites people across the traditional sectarian divide."
Charter NI and Tagit were approached for comment about the bonfire.
More than £450,000 was allocated between six community organisations in April under the council's Summer Community Diversionary Festivals Programme.
The scheme has faced criticism in previous years with some councillors raising transparency concerns and questioning how funding has been used.
A council spokeswoman said the programme supports events which "make a significant contribution to reducing anti-social behaviour on key dates over the summer period, specifically July 11 and August 8".
She added: "In April 2023, elected members agreed to allocate £41,170 of funding to Charter NI through this year's programme. This funding supports youth work and a range of community, cultural, creative and sporting events, being delivered across a number of areas in Belfast, during July.
"Elected members also agreed in April 2023 to undertake a review of the Summer Community Diversionary Funding Programme moving forward."
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