Ulster Unionist Leader, Mike Nesbitt MLA, has accused the Department of Culture Arts & Leisure (DCAL) of obstructing the search for truth over when safety concerns were first raised over the development of Casement Park. This follows the Department’s failure to comply with a Freedom of Information request.

Mr Nesbitt said:

“It has been clear to me for some time that safety expert Paul Scott of Sport NI raised concerns about evacuation times over a year ago with senior officials. If that is the case, it is inconceivable that officials would sit on that knowledge. They would instinctively ensure the Minister was told, and they would do so in writing to ensure there was a paper trail to prove they acted appropriately.

“I have asked to see that paper trail via a Freedom of Information request. That request was submitted four weeks ago. DCAL have waited until the deadline for response to inform me they need another four weeks, because they are “still considering the information that falls within the scope of your request.”

“That is nonsense. The proverbial visitor from Planet Mars wouldn’t need 20 working days to figure out what I’m looking for. It is inconceivable that the Sports Minister was not told of the safety concerns a very long time ago and chose to ignore that information and its implications. Indeed that point was made on Thursday at the Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure when the then Permanent Secretary told MLAs safety concerns had been raised over a year ago.

“The Minister has since refined her original position of total ignorance over safety to say she wasn’t aware of how serious the concerns were until 30 April this year. In admitting she had some knowledge, she has jumped on a slippery slope and we all know that will end with a hard landing when the full truth emerges. I would think better of her if she simply put her hand up and admitted her mistake.”