Sinn Fein Claim Police Games Threatened By DUP

In an amazing turn-around, unthinkable a few years ago, Sinn Fein has thrown its weight behind the forthcoming World Police and Fire Games.

The party has said that delays to the planned national stadium at the Maze could scupper Northern Ireland's plans to host the event in 2013.

Ironically, given decades of opposition by the party to all forms of policing, Sinn Fein's Paul Butler accused the DUP of threatening the event and said that around 25,000 people from more than 65 countries are expected to travel to the event in March 2007, and noted it could boost the economy by around £25m in extra hotel nights and hospitality spending.

Mr Butler said: "The DUP needs to end the uncertainty and make it clear that they support the stadium being built on the site of the former prison.

"The reality is there will not be a stadium built with Executive approval unless it is built at the Maze/Long Kesh site."

Some members of the DUP oppose the location near Lisburn, Co Antrim, over plans for a conflict transformation centre.

Speaking as the MLA for the area Mr Butler warned of the financial cost if the Police and Fire Games were lost.

He was commenting against a background that there has already been concerns that the Province could lose out on spin-offs from the 2012 London Olympics.

A spokesman for the DUP said the final decision rested with the Executive.

However, the Culture Minister Edwin Poots has already told the Assembly's Culture Committee that hosting the Police and Fire Games is "predicated on a stadium being available within the greater Belfast area".

(BMcC)