Project is an affront to all IRA victims

I FIND it quite extraordinary that elected representatives remain muted regarding a spend of £18m on a number of pre-cast concrete buildings on the former Maze Prison site with questionable listing protection.

The H Block buildings should have been de-listed by past Environment Ministers, when the department rejected the original request by Sinn Fein to retain them by 5 votes to 1 back in 2005.

The panel then stated “they did not feel that the buildings in the complex were unique nor had they any special architectural value” However, this decision was strangely reversed at a later review. I am at a loss to understand why this was not fully investigated to clarify why the original decision was overturned.

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I further note that no one has moved to list or protect the H blocks in Magilligan Prison.

It is somewhat ironic also to find that Peter Robinson has worked in cooperation with a self confessed IRA commander in jointly submitting the application that secured the EU Peace III funding for this project.

Obviously contrary to the public stance of some individuals within the DUP, they are now inextricably linked to assisting and supporting the Sinn Fein deal for the Maze over the past several years.

I find this somewhat surprising as I was of the opinion the DUP was fervently opposed to retaining the H blocks especially when Nigel Dodds, the DUP deputy leader, pointed out that Conflict Resolution Centre is ‘a shrine to IRA terrorists, no matter what way it’s dressed up’

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For them to further involve and encourage past or current members of HM security forces in this venture smacks of political expediency in trying to sanitise this obnoxious project, notwithstanding the fact it’s an affront to all the victims of IRA terrorism in the first instance.

By delivering on this republican project; is this moving Northern Ireland forward? Not in my view.

Ruth Hoey