Eleven years ago, then-first minister Peter Robinson halted plans to redevelop the site after grassroots unionist concerns that the site would become a shrine to IRA terror. Here are some key moments in the ongoing saga: - January 2006. Maze development corporation unveils a plan to build a 42,500-seater multi-sports stadium and a “conflict transformation centre”.
Did you know with an ad-lite subscription to NorthernIrelandWorld, you get 70% fewer ads while viewing the news that matters to you. - October 2006. Demolition of the prison began.
Advertisement Advertisement - June 2007. DUP deputy leader Nigel Dodds said “whatever spin is deployed, the preservation of the H-Blocks - including the hospital wing - would become a shrine to the terrorists”. He said it was “quite clear now the price for Sinn Fein support for the Maze project including the stadium is a shrine to IRA terrorism” – amid an internal DUP dispute about where a new national stadium for Northern Ireland should be built.
- July 2007. Martin McGuinness opposes attempts by unionist politicians to de-list Maze buildings in which prisoners were housed. - January 2009.
DUP sports minister Gregory Campbell cancels plans for a stadium at the site, citing a lack of political consensus. He began to pursue upgrades of the existing Football, Rugby and GAA stadia. - April 2013.
Stormont’s SDLP environment minister Alex Attwood granted planning permission for the Maze to be redeveloped at a cost of £300m. It was intended to be a “peace centre” and contain an arena for agricultural shows. Advertisement Advertisement - August 2013.
DUP first minister Peter Robinson stalled the Maze plans – saying there must be a change of attitude by Sinn Fein towards victims of IRA violence. - May 2019. Terence Brannigan, then chairman of the Maze Long Kesh Development Corporation, said that plans for a peace centre at the site had been “set aside” – partly because of lapsed EU funding and planning permission.
He also acknowledged that the controversial ‘peace centre’ was had been “recognised as a potential barrier” to the site’s devlopment. National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting.
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