Controversy at council over war book sale

The move comes after invoices for 1,500 were received by council for 75 copies of the 'Ballyclare and District Roll of Honour' publication.

The book in question has been written by Ballyclare man Eddie Beck and is dedicated to the memory of service personnel from the town and surrounding areas who served in the First and Second World Wars.

A recent meeting of the council heard 50 copies of the publication had been delivered to its headquarters at Mossley Mill and a further 25 to Sentry Hill Historic House.

However, councillors heard that only 20 copies had, in fact, been approved to be accepted - on a sale or return basis - by council officers.

DUP Alderman Paul Girvan explained to those at the meeting that it appeared that the author, having spoken to an unnamed councillor, was of the mindset that it would be acceptable to present more than 20 copies to the council.

The majority of members at the council meeting were perturbed to hear this, even as they praised the military history book as a publication on its own merits.

"It seems a council member has made a commitment to the author about council taking more books, and this is a matter of concern because only council officers can make that type of decision, not councillors," said Alliance councillor Lynn Frazer.

Full story in this week's Newtownabbey Times which is available now