Unionist leaders angry over 'conflict centre'
UNIONIST leaders have expressed doubt and anger over plans for a conflict resolution facility at the site of the former Maze prison.
Ulster Unionist leader Sir Reg Empey said he was "nervous" over the centre, which will be housed in the former prison hospital where 10 IRA hunger strikers died, while TUV leader Jim Allister said there was no doubt it would become a "provo shrine".
Last night, the first minister Peter Robinson and deputy first minister Martin McGuinness announced a conflict resolution facility was part of the plan for the future of the Maze site.
They said a Development Corporation will be appointed to oversee the opening and redevelopment of the site including the construction of a Peace Building and Conflict Resolution facility.
The draft Strategic Investment and Regeneration of Sites (Maze/ Long Kesh Development Corporation) (Northern Ireland) Order 2010 will be debated in the Assembly in September and if passed, the centre could be open for business as soon as 2012.
Meanwhile, the Royal Ulster Agricultural Society (RUAS), which runs the Balmoral show at the King's Hall in Belfast, is in negotiations to move to the site.
Mr McGuinness said an EU funding application for 20m would shortly be submitted, adding it is "anticipated that the centre will be a world-class facility of international importance".
Mr Robinson did not comment on the controversial proposed centre and was unavailable for interview last night.
In the joint statement, he said the overall development of the site is "hugely significant not only in terms of Northern Ireland but for Europe as a whole".
He said it could potentially create up to 6,000 jobs but did not comment on the conflict resolution centre aspect,
It is understood the Development Corporation would consist of both nationalist and unionist politicians as well as representatives of the army, ex-police and prison workers as well as ex prisoners.
Sir Reg welcomed the established of the Development Corporation but said he would have preferred the issue of the conflict resolution facility to have been “parked for the time being”.
“I would be worried that the work of the Development Corporation will be overshadowed by the sensitivities surrounding locating the facility in a former prison which symbolises much of the pain and division Northern Ireland experienced during the Troubles,” he said.
Mr Allister slammed the conflict resolution centre as “subtle code for provo shrine”.
“Instead of cleansing the Maze site of its shrine potential by delisting and demolishing the ugly prison buildings, as successive DUP ministers could have done, the DUP has rolled over to Sinn Fein demands that central to Maze development is development of the shrine project,” he said.
Meanwhile, victims’ campaigner Willie Frazer said he found it “unbelievable” that the conflict resolution centre was going ahead.
“Too many people have paid with their lives and limbs to defeat terrorism for us to now allow our history to be re written by unrepentant terrorists,” he said.
“I would urge our politicians to take a step back as they are trying to succeed where the terrorists failed.”
The prison, where 10 men died in the 1981 republican hunger strikes, closed in 2000.
The 360-acre site was gifted to the government of Northern Ireland in 2003 but until yesterday, parties had been unable to agree on how to develop it.
To date, almost 12.5m has been spent on the potential redevelopment of the site.
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Tuesday 29 May 2012
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