Bonfire 'cages' scheme in doubt?

And the fear is that if the scheme is cancelled that bonfires will potentially not be as safe and not as tidy.

The cage pilot scheme was heralded in recent weeks but within hours of the bonfires being burned before the Twelfth, thieves moved in before Ballymoney Council staff could retrieve the cages which were said to have been re-usable.

Four bonfire sites were raided including Stranocum and the Glebe in Ballymoney.

A police spokesperson said they received a report from Ballymoney Council about the theft of up to 40 metal barriers which were stolen from various bonfires in the Ballymoney Borough.

The spokesman said 13 of the barriers were recovered in a rural location near Ballymoney.

One theory is that the thieves were keen to cash in on the value of the metal as scrap.

Ballymoney DUP councillor Ian Stevenson who, in recent months, proposed that Ballymoney Council moved forward with the ‘cage’ scheme pilot project, said the thefts are disappointing.

“It is sad that somebody has stolen them as they were brought in for a good purpose to make people safer at bonfires but now that these have been stolen the effectiveness of the scheme will obviously have to be reviewed and there could be a chance that the scheme may be scrapped.

“That obviously still has all to be looked at by the whole Council but if it does go you could say that these thieves have put the safety of bonfire users in jeopardy in the future.

“I hope the police catch whoever did this so it will deter any possible future such thefts,” said Cllr Stevenson.

Police are appealing for witnesses to get in touch with them on 08456008000 or phone the Crimestoppers confidential freephone number on 0800555111.