Why didn’t ministers de-list H blocks?

I have read with interest the comments by our MP Jeffrey Donaldson in regard to his opposition to the H blocks at the Maze with questionable listing status. A point I would agree and support him on.

However, to blame Direct Rule Ministers or even his local constituents is stretching the facts and reality a bit too much. Jeffrey should look first at his party colleagues who failed to use their executive power to de-list and erase all the H blocks. Unlike, Martin McGuinness who used his executive power to abolish the 11 plus with one decisive directive.

Indeed, consecutive DUP Environment Ministers from Arlene Foster 2007, Sammy Wilson in 2008 and Edwin Poots 2009/11 failed to put their words into action and de-list and demolish them.

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Dose this not confirm that the DUP partnership with Sinn Fein goes beyond and above the numerous communiqués to the local media of their outright opposition to an IRA memorial at the Maze which will commemorate 10 hunger strikers who died there? The question will remain why have they not acted?

It’s somewhat ironic that Nigel Dodds MP is on record as describing the retained H blocks ‘as a Shrine to Terrorists no matter what way it’s dressed up’.

Cecil Watson,

Lisburn