H-Block stadium swipe 'pointless'

One of the notorious H-blocks would be retained if the plan goes ahead

Culture Minister Edwin Poots has dismissed criticism by DUP colleague Nigel Dodds of the planned stadium at the former Maze prison site.

Mr Dodds said unionists would not support it if the green light was also given for a conflict transformation centre retaining one of the H-Blocks.

The North Belfast MP warned of an "IRA shrine", but Mr Poots said the H-Blocks are listed buildings and here to stay.

The Lagan Valley MLA said a stadium would take the focus from the H-Blocks.

"If people don't want any development at the Maze, those maintained structures will still be there, irrespective of whether there's a stadium developed there," he told Radio Ulster's Inside Politics.

The plans for the Maze stadium

"There's far greater potential for a shrine to be developed if that's the only thing left of the site."

A 35,000-seater stadium for soccer, GAA and rugby is planned for the Maze/Long Kesh site, but opponents argue the stadium should be built in Belfast instead.

DUP leader Ian Paisley has already ruled out rival plans to locate the stadium at Belfast's Ormeau Park, and Mr Dodds insisted he was speaking in a personal capacity.

"It is quite clear now the price for Sinn Fein support for the Maze project including the stadium is a shrine to IRA terrorism," he said.

"However it is dressed up, whatever spin is deployed, the preservation of a section of the H-Blocks - including the hospital wing - would become a shrine to the terrorists who committed suicide in the Maze in the 1980s (the republican hunger strikes)."