Gordon Lyons accused of ‘endless delay’ over Casement Park

Sports minister Gordon Lyons has been accused of “endless delay” in delivering on the stalled Casement Park project.

Alliance MLA David Honeyford spoke out after it emerged the DUP minister wrote to the British government seeking a funding update more than two months after meeting with GAA chiefs.

The October meeting, which included president Jarlath Burns and Ulster Chief Executive Brian McAvoy was later described as “fraught and tetchy”.

Mr Honeyford, who is his party’s spokesman for sport, says it has now emerged that Mr Lyons only wrote to the secretary of state on the same day he was asked for an update from him.

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The redevelopment project has stalled after more than a decade of legal and financial wrangles over the landmark west Belfast site.

The planned 34,500 capacity stadium had been included in a joint Ireland/Britain bid to host Euro 2028, however, the British government pulled out last year.

Initially budgeted at £77.5m, the Stormont executive was to provide £62.5m with the GAA stumping up just £15m.

Earlier this year the Irish government said it would fork out £43m, with the British government being asked to make up any shortfall.

The British government has said the estimated cost of rebuilding Casement Park had “risen dramatically” to “potentially over £400m”.

While the GAA has claimed this figure is “wildly exaggerated”, it admits “a significant funding gap remains”.

Since losing out as Euro 2028 hosts, the GAA has been forced to reduce the size of the Casement project.

It originally former part of a Stormont Executive stadium strategy that has already delivered for soccer and Rugby.

Mr Lyons, who has yet to attend a GAA game, has now been accused of dragging his heels.

Mr Honeyford, who is development officer with County Antrim club, St Joseph’s GAC, Glenavy, raised concerns about the approach of Mr Lyons.

“The timeline of the minister’s late correspondence with the secretary of state, combined with his failure to enter into any form of correspondence with the Irish Government on Shared Island funding, appears to indicate the minister is interested only in endless delay when it comes to delivering on Casement, and the opportunities it would present for Northern Ireland,” he said.

“Correspondence was only sent on January 6, which was the same day my question asking for an update was raised with minister.

“This had been promised at meeting with Jarlath Burns and Brian McAvoy in October.”

The Department for Communities was contacted.