DUP Maze Decision A 'Mistake' - McGuinness

Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness has said a DUP decision not to support a peace and conflict resolution centre at the former Maze prison site is a "mistake".

The centre was planned as part of a £300m redevelopment of the site, which had previously secured the support of the First Minister and DUP leader Peter Robinson.

However, following pressure from an IRA victims' group, the Orange Order and other unionist parties, the DUP has revoked its support of the centre.

Mr McGuinness said the move gave "succour" to "the extremes of political unionism."

"This week's decision by the DUP to abandon the agreement reached on the future development of the Maze/Long Kesh site is a mistake," he said.

"It is a mistake not just because it jeopardises much needed investment and jobs, but also for the message it sends to the vast majority of people, nationalist and unionist, who are rock solid behind the peace process.

"Some in the extremes of political unionism believe that they can unpick the Good Friday Agreement. Moves like this give them succour.

"However, it ignores the political reality and ignores the fact that the vast majority of unionists want to see this process succeed.

"They are not interested in re-fighting battles that are long over, or harking back to a time that has long gone They want to see their political leaders get on with the job of reconciliation and delivering in the government."

Several DUP MLAs have hit out against Mr McGuinness's comments.

Nelson McCausland said: "Once again republicans seek to blame everyone for their own outrageous behaviour. The action taken by Peter Robinson was not taken in a vacuum but in the context of Sinn Féin repeatedly undermining unionist belief in their commitment to reconciliation.

"The decision regarding the peace centre does not need to impact upon the massive economic potential of the site and the thousands of jobs which can flow as a result. The only people who appear to be casting any doubt on these jobs are Sinn Fein."

Edwin Poots said Mr McGuinness was "quick to brand the DUP action on the Maze a mistake."

"What about the IRA parade in Castlederg?- no mention of that as a mistake," he said.

"What about the naming of a children's play park in Newry after an IRA terrorist? What about the whipping up of community tensions over parades? These never get a mention and are conveniently forgotten by Republicans.

"Sinn Fein are seemingly only interested in playing to a narrow republican base."

Arlene Foster added: "Unfortunately the kind of leadership which has been shown by the First Minister and which has been warmly welcomed in recent days is not replicated by republicans who on the one hand talk about reconciliation but on the other hand re-traumatise victims through the glorification of criminals in Castlederg.

"If Sinn Féin does want to demonstrate some leadership now then not only could they leave behind their recent tactics, but they could make a clear statement that the remainder of the Maze site should be developed for the good of everyone in Northern Ireland and to generate the 5,000 jobs and many millions of pounds for our local economy which can every single person in our society can stand behind and give their full support to."

SDLP leader Alisdair McDonnell said fighting between the two parties was "souring the political process".

"Last week we saw how Peter Robinson, viewing the mob violence in Belfast from his American holiday, played to the gallery of unionist extremism and made a fundamental u-turn on the Maze in a bid to appease this minority.

"Now days later we see his deputy Sinn Féin’s Martin McGuinness similarly move to appease his party who are obviously demanding an angry response over the airwaves.

"This public fighting does nothing to aid or assist the ordinary people of the north who we were all elected to serve.

"All it does is to sour the political process and make the challenging and necessary decisions that we as political leaders face all the more difficult."

(IT/JP)