Statement by Court councillor and TUV deputy leader Ron McDowell:
“When the new Casement Park was proposed the GAA agreed to pay £15 million of the projected £77.5 million cost. Getting a new stadium while contributing less than 20% of the cost of construction was a good deal from a GAA point of view, particularly given that they are by a considerable distance the richest sporting organisation in Northern Ireland.
“It is totally unacceptable that, with the cost of Casement ballooning to £168 million, the GAA should refuse to contribute any more to the cost of the project. The GAA are now expecting the public purse to cover over 90% of the cost of their stadium.
“It is important to remember too that many people in Northern Ireland have zero interest in the GAA and will never darken the turnstiles of the place.
“At a time when national and local government finances are under pressure and ordinary people are dealing with a cost of living crisis it is nothing short of scandalous that the Secretary of State should have a “we’ll find the money don’t you worry” approach to this project and this project alone. Why should the GAA uniquely have access to a bottomless pit of public money?”