Quantcast
Viewing all articles
Browse latest Browse all 552

DUP and Sinn Fein row over Maze prison leads to cancelled events

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.

The Ulster Aviation Society has had to cancel two major open day events due to be held on the former site of the Maze prison due to a row between the DUP and Sinn Fein.

Use of the site requires permission from the First and Deputy First Minister.

But a row over the development of the site has meant that Sinn Fein will not give permission for any event to be held. 

Last year over 5,000 people attended the Ulster Aviation Society's open day.

Sinn Fein MLA Catriona Ruane said her party would block any use of the site until their demands for a controversial peace centre to be built on the land are met.

She said: "Sinn Fein want the Long Kesh/Maze to go ahead, Sinn Fein has constantly and consistently supported this site.

"Sinn Fein and the DUP, and indeed all the political parties in the executive, have an agreement in relation to the programme for government for the development of the full site, not an a la carte approach and not certain parts of it."

"Obviously we have supported the Balmoral show because we wanted to honour commitments to them, but Martin McGuinness in the assembly was absolutely clear there will be no further development of the site until the full site is developed as agreed."

The DUP's Jeffrey Donaldson said: "The first minister approved the open day but unfortunately it was blocked by the deputy first minister who said that he couldn't consent to the open day to go ahead in the absence of agreement on what happens to the maintained prison buildings on the Maze site.

"I think it is sad, and I have to say petty, that the deputy first minister has decided to punish a charity and punish the public - thousands of whom attend these open days every year - over politics."


Viewing all articles
Browse latest Browse all 552

Trending Articles