By Paul Drury

Plans for a publicly-funded safe zone for Celtic fans in Belfast on Friday evening have been attacked by loyalist politicians in the province.

Around £15,000 of council cash is being directed towards efforts to keep Hoops followers away from Windsor Park, where the Scottish champions play local side, Linfield, in the Champions League.

With the Orange marching season at its height, the Scottish champions have decided it is safer that it has no supporters inside Windsor Park for the match.

But even measures to entertain Hoops followers elsewhere in the city have enraged loyalist politicians.

Belfast City Council. Photo credit: Google maps

It has been reported that £15,000 of cash from Belfast City Council is being spent on an outdoor event several miles from the stadium in the west of the city.

Funding was proposed at a June meeting of the West Belfast Police and Community Safety Partnership and unanimously voted through at a meeting in Belfast City Hall.

Ticketless Celtic fans will be able to watch the game on what’s described as “Ireland’s biggest TV screen” in the grounds of the Devenish entertainment complex.

It is understood that the move has been welcomed by the Police Service of Northern Ireland, whose resources will be concentrated at the ground itself.

However, the decision has sparked anger among unionist politicians, who have called on the arrangements to be reviewed.

DUP councillor Frank McCoubrey, who sits on the West Belfast PCSP, said it was “a complete waste of money”.

He added: “I don't think it's a good way to spend our budget and I want them to rethink the allocation of this money as a matter of urgency. A lot of communities could do with £15,000.”

Ulster Unionist Jim Rodgers said:“People are angry and have expressed amazement over the possibility of Belfast City Council providing financial assistance for this fanzone when applications for similar facilities have been denied in the past.”

He said he will be referring the matter to the Northern Ireland Audit Office.

He added:”Public money can't be spent this way. I've nothing against fanzones but this is public money and we have to account for every penny spent. I can't see this going ahead.”

But Sinn Fein's Jim McVeigh welcomed the council's funding allocation, adding: “The idea is to get as many people off the street as possible, so instead of having lots of young men outside drinking they're in a controlled environment instead.”

Independent unionist councillor Jolene Bunting, who will be at Windsor Park tonight, said it was money well spent.

“It's only fair that the fans have somewhere to watch the match,” she said.

“It's a huge match, something we'll probably never see again and supporters deserve somewhere to watch it.”

No-one was available at Belfast City Council on Thursday to confirm the spending. Neither Celtic nor Linfield would comment on security arrangements surrounding the tie.