Councillors want Mr. Norman Davidson's report to explain on whose authority the work was carried out.

They also want representatives of Northern Ireland's Community Relations Council, which supplied the finance, to attend a council meeting to explain why the money was made available.

All of these actions were proposed by DUP Councillor William Leathem.

He told last Wednesday evening's monthly council meeting, during which Mark Harbinson of Stoneyford Jubilee Committee was present in the public gallery, council officers had 'gone to great lengths to appease one particular group'.

He said he felt there was an equality issue involved as other groups had accepted the 75 % funding offered by the council to finance their events.

His proposals were seconded by his party colleague Councillor Jonathan Craig who said one group in an interface area were particularly aggrieved by the way 'things were handled'.

Councillor Brian Heading (SDLP) said there was a responsibility on the council to improve community relations but 'allowing themselves to be blackmailed' was not the way to do this.

Deputy Mayor Alderman Edwin Poots told the meeting: "One can only assume the police had some intelligence there were going to be problems if the beacon did not go ahead," he said. "I have a fundamental problem with that. I do not believe we should be bullied by anyone."

Councillor Trevor Lunn (Alliance) pointed out another Catholic family had been intimidated from Stoneyford in the weeks leading up to the twelfth and predicted they would not be the last.

He questioned the actions of the Ulster Unionist Mayor Councillor Ronnie Crawford who was invited to light the beacon and did so while it contained one of Sinn Fein Councillor Paul Butler's election posters.

Mr. Lunn also referred to a rumour some money for the beacon had 'come from the Mayor's budget'.

Alderman Ivan Davis (Ulster Unionist) made it clear he supported the actions which led to funding being supplied by the Community Relations Council.

"Do we want a confrontation in Stoneyford or do we want to try and solve the problem?" he asked.

However, Councillor Peter O'Hagan (SDLP) asked if Mr. Davis realised there was a community association in Stoneyford which 'represented all the people'.

Mr. Crawford strongly denied any of the money had come from his budget and explained police had told him a major operation would be mounted to keep order in Stoneyford if the beacon was replaced by a bonfire.

He said the PSNI had been keen to see the matter resolved but he was unsure what attitude the council would take to supplying any last minute funding for the beacon and the festival surrounding its lighting.

It was therefore decided to ask the Community Relations Council to supply the full amount necessary.

Mr. Crawford stressed he had no idea Mr. Butler's poster was on the beacon until he arrived in Stoneyford but pointed out his own image had been burned on bonfires on more than one occasion.

Alderman Cecil Calvert (Traditional Unionist Party) strongly criticised the actions of the police in Stoneyford.

He referred to officers as 'rascals' and 'bullies' and accused them of acting in an initimadatory manner.

He also claimed PSNI members had overturned a caravan at the site of the bonfire which would have been lit had finance for the beacon not become available.