UUP slams EU report on the Maze Centre

The report outlined that the development at the former Maze Prison had the potential to be a major EU initiative and said that it may not be permanently off the table.

“Political conditions on the ground in Northern Ireland have meant that project cannot go ahead in the short-term at least, and it was removed from the Peace 3 programme towards the end of 2013,” said the report.

However Unionists were outraged at the comments. Ulster Unionist Councillor Alexander Redpath commented:“I’m disappointed that the EU are still holding out hope for a Peace Building and Conflict Resolution Centreat the Maze Prison site.

“The EU pledged 14.6 million euro to support this project which was wholly inappropriate and insensitive to the concerns of unionists. I support a Peace Building and Conflict Resolution Centre but at a neutral location. The Maze as a site is certainly off the table for me and my UUP colleagues.”

UUP Leader Mike Nesbitt added: “Many countries and regions look to us to inspire their efforts at peace building by recounting the lessons of our story.

“ It is a matter of the utmost regret that the purity of such a concept is poisoned by an ideological insistence of choosing a venue that glorifies terrorism. It is equally regrettable that the development of the entire Maze site is being held to ransom by Republicans .”