Statement by TUV Court Councillor Ron McDowell:
“The success of the UEFA EURO 2028 by Northern Ireland, England, Scotland, Wales and the Republic is something which will be welcomed by football fans across the British Isles and we look forward to the home nations putting on a great performance on one of the biggest sporting platforms in the world.
“That said, the decision to fund the redevelopment of Casement with a blank cheque from the taxpayer is wrong. No more public money should go to a project which was ill conceived from the outset, running massively over budget and encountering significant opposition from local residents.
“The GAA is well able to finance the completion of the project.
“Furthermore, it is worth noting that once built Casement will become a lucrative cash cow for the GAA. A little forward thinking by the powers that be would have resulted in a clause which allowed the public to claw back at least some of the cost of this project from profits generated by future events at Casement. Indeed, should the Secretary of State foolishly proceed with his suggestion to give the GAA “whatever it takes” to finish the build then this provision should, at the very least, be built into the funding.”