DUP 'Mystified' At Orange Lodge Maze Statement

The DUP has said it is "mystified" by a statement from the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland in opposition to the proposed Maze Peace Centre.

Both the Ulster Unionist Party and the Orange Order have warned that the new centre could become a shrine to terrorists.

"In our view the construction of this centre will inevitably further the efforts of those who effectively wish to rewrite history by equating the perpetrators of violence with those innocent victims," the Lodge said in a statement.

"The development of this centre at this site may also actually deepen the trauma and prolong the healing process for those who suffered directly as a consequence of terrorism"

But the DUP claims the proposal to build the site came from a panel led by a leading member of the Ulster Unionist Party and Orangeman.

"Grand Lodge did not object or criticise the decision when it was made in 2005 and presented by one of their Orange Brethren," a statement from the DUP said.

"That report recommended both the listing of the prison buildings and called for a peace centre to be located within the prison buildings. This report, presented by the leading UUP member and Orangeman, was also endorsed by the then Ulster Unionist Party leader (also an Orangeman). Why did Grand Lodge not state their opposition when the binding decision was taken eight years ago?"

The DUP also warned that it is "unwise" to reach any conclusions about the new facility before the proposals have been finalised.

"Those who comment now do so on the basis of wildly exaggerated political scaremongering," it said.

"There is no basis for saying we are building a shrine to terrorists. Unlike the Ulster Unionist Party proposal we have decoupled the Peace Centre from the prison buildings listed on the recommendation of the UUP."

A statement from the UUP said: "The DUP is so wrapped up in its relationship with Sinn Fein and their enthusiasm for the Maze centre and the retention of part of the prison buildings where the hunger strikers died that they take their anger out on the Orange Order and the Ulster Unionist Party.

"We can assure the DUP that the broader unionist family is mystified as to why the DUP is so determined to facilitate Sinn Fein in their aim of establishing a terrorist shrine at the site of the former Maze Prison via the retention of former Prison Buildings and the location of a proposed Conflict Transformation Centre close by.

"As we have previously stated we are convinced that to build such a centre at the most divisive site in Northern Ireland is in no-one’s interests. We back the plans to attract £300m of investment, and hope that yields even more than the 5,000 permanent jobs that have been forecast. What we oppose is the Conflict Transformation centre plans.

"The retention of some former prison buildings, including the Hospital, holds no attraction for the vast majority of our citizens, but guarantees the creation of a shrine to Republican terror, and in particular the hunger-strikers."

(IT/CD)