Unionist Leaders Clash Over Maze Development

The leaders of the two main unionist parties in Northern Ireland have been exchanging blows in open letters regarding the proposed peace and resolution centre at the former Maze prison site.

The DUP is in favour of the proposals, while the Ulster Unionist Party believes the centre would become a 'shrine' to republican hunger strikers.

UUP leader Mike Nesbitt said in an open letter to DUP leader Peter Robinson: "My first question to you is this: why does this centre need to be built at the Maze?

"As you now know, the proposal is opposed by innocent victims, including Innocent Victims United (IVU) who represent some 8,000 individual innocent victims.

"Jeffrey Donaldson says that he can offer a 'personal guarantee' regarding what will and will not be permitted by the DUP in relation to the retained buildings of the former HMP Maze and the PbCRC. Respectfully, my second question is this: does this extend to actions by the other NI Executive Ministers with responsibilities outwith OFMdFM?"

Mr Nesbitt raised questions regarding Sinn Féin's involvement in the development.

He continued: "May I also take the opportunity to put on record the Ulster Unionist Party’s position regarding the retained prison buildings and our objection to placing the PbCRC at the site."

Peter Robinson has accused Mr Nesbitt of trying to "rewrite history" and of "obscuring the UUP’s past involvement in the decision".

"You ask, why does this centre need to be built at the Maze?," Mr Robinson said. "Of course, you know the answer because in 2005 the UUP-led panel proposed that the centre be sited at the Maze and that elements of the prison be retained and the Peace Centre be incorporated with them. For the absence of any doubt, this report is publicly available and cannot be airbrushed from history by the UUP.

"No sensible opponent of the scheme has been prepared to say that they would have foregone the 5000 jobs and £300 million of investment. Yet no other alternative is available.

"On four separate occasions at your committee meeting last Wednesday 26 June I asked you which option you would have chosen had you been in my position. Tellingly four times you failed to answer. Once again I challenge you to answer now."

He continued: "In addition as I told your committee, the new centre will not be a museum or visitor attraction and will not tell the history of the Maze site or the history of the Northern Ireland Troubles.

"Instead, it will be an internationally focused and academically based centre offering conference-type facilities for those engaged in conflict resolution, peace building and peace keeping across the globe."

"Finally, you raise the issue of consultation. As an act of kindness I have refrained until now from revealing that you were directly consulted in your capacity as a Victims Commissioner and made no objection on any of these matters."

The debate over the proposed development continues.

(IT/CD)