Stormont permanent secretary turned Labour chief-of-staff Sue Gray has been linked to fresh British government efforts to bridge the funding gap for Casement Park.
Reports in London newspapers The Times and Daily Telegraph have characterised the urgent discussions about readying the west Belfast GAA stadium for Euro 2028 as a “bailout”.
On Wednesday, the Times quoted anonymous Whitehall sources, one of who accused Ms Gray of “subverting” the cabinet and sparking resentment among ministers by “personally dominating” negotiations over Casement Park.
“It’s constitutionally improper,” the source said.
Another source was reported to have remarked that Ms Gray had paid more interest to the stadium than the NHS in Northern Ireland.
The Murdock-owned title said the Labour chief-of-staff was seeking to secure “up to £310m” for the stadium, whereas at least £115m of the overall cost of the project has already been pledged collectively by the Stormont executive, Irish government and GAA.
The article also described Ms Gray as being “very close to Conor Murphy, the Sinn Féin finance minister” (sic).
Downing Street has declined to comment on the story but it is understood that senior government figures believe it is unrepresentative of how the matter is being dealt with by the new Labour administration.
In May, the then Prime Minister Rishi Sunak insisted the British government would make a “significant contribution” to the redevelopment of Casement Park.
Despite describing Euro 2028 as a “great legacy for Northern Ireland”, he refused to say how much money would be made available.
Former Secretary of State Chris Heaton-Harris said in 2023 funding for the now derelict stadium would be secured.
“We’ll get the money, don’t you worry,” he said.
