Claims DUP did not condemn anti-GAA signs are absolutely false – Lyons

A DUP minister has said claims that his party did not condemn anti-GAA signs recently erected in Co Antrim are “absolutely false”.

It came as Communities Minister Gordon Lyons clashed with a Sinn Féin MLA over the reasons behind the delay in rebuilding the Casement Park stadium in west Belfast.

Mr Lyons again told MLAs that the delays in the project were not down to his actions.

The Stormont Executive committed to redevelop the derelict Casement Park in 2011, as part of a strategy to revamp football’s Windsor Park and the rugby ground at Ravenhill.

While the two other Belfast-based projects went ahead, the redevelopment of Casement was delayed because of legal challenges by local residents.

In September last year, the UK government ended hopes that the west Belfast venue would host Euro 2028 games when it said it would not bridge a funding gap to deliver the redevelopment in time.

During ministerial question time Sinn Féin MLA Philip McGuigan told Mr Lyons there is a “widely held view that you are dragging your heels in relation to Casement Park”.

He added: “Can I ask why you still have not met the British Secretary of State (Hilary Benn) in relation to the British government’s commitment to provide funding for Casement Park.”

Mr Lyons responded: “I have asked for a meeting with the Secretary of State. I have written to the Secretary of State asking for what potential contribution he is willing to make to sport in Northern Ireland.”

He added: “Ravenhill and Windsor Park got their money and got their refurbishments in their respective sports.

“The reason why Casement has not been able to draw down the full £62.5 million is not because of any action or lack of action on my part, it is because of issues around safety