Casement Park GAA Stadium row: Plans to invest up to £200m for Euro 2028 come from failed republican efforts for 'peace centre' at Maze, says TUV

The stadium is one of ten venues – including Wembley, Hampden Park and the Aviva in Dublin – included in the bid, despite having been derelict for several years.

TUV deputy leader, Belfast councillor Ron McDowell, said: "It is important to remember that the genesis of this whole issue is the insistence of Republicans that a shrine to the IRA hunger strikers be preserved at the Maze beside a so-called 'peace centre' which scuppered the whole idea of a national stadium. When they couldn't get that, Republicans changed tack and insisted that millions be channelled into Casement instead."

He added: "There is no appetite for this among Northern Ireland fans. In fact, we face the prospect of Northern Ireland hosting matches in the world's second biggest football tournament with no lasting legacy for football in the Province."

West Belfast Sinn Fein MP Paul Maskey did not challenge the claims, but said the Euros will be "an opportunity of a lifetime".

He added: “The building of Casement Park is a flagship Executive and a NDNA (New Decade New Approach) commitment. Both the Irish and British governments and the GAA have committed to the funding."

(The NDNA deal includes commitments to complete both Regional and Sub Regional Sports Stadia Programmes).

He added: “It is now time to move forward to build Casement Park to ensure we will have a first-class, state-of-the-art sporting facility for Ulster Gaels, and to host major games in the Euros and big events."

The tournament will leave a real legacy that will benefit grassroots football, he added.

Earlier on Thursday, Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald said opposing funding for the redevelopment was “incomprehensible”.

Her comments came after DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson said government plans to invest in Casement Park during a budget crisis raise many questions.

But Ms McDonald countered: “This is a good news story for everybody right across the North, for sport, for the economy, for relationships between Britain and Ireland, north and south.”

However Northern Ireland fans expressed concerns. On the Facebook site, Northern Ireland Flags and Banners, the host posted a tongue-in-cheek advert for a 'Fan March' to Casement Park this Saturday to “test” how safe they would be.

He then quickly added: "PS, for your own safety, please do not take the above post seriously".

One fan then mused on IRA rallies and murders that took place in and around Casement Park.

Another suggested NI Supporters Clubs should tell the Irish Football Association it would be held liable for any injuries suffered by fans attending matches at Casement.

But former Ulster and Ireland rugby international Trevor Ringland - who promotes cross community sport - asked if certain areas of Northern Ireland should be left effectively as "ghettoes"?

He added: "I think that despite the challenges, we should embrace it and that will challenge everyone. There are plenty of NI fans in West Belfast - it is their team too!"