The Northern Secretary, Hilary Benn, conveyed his concerns on Thursday about meeting the deadline to finalise the construction of Casement Park in time for Euro 2028 games due in Belfast. During a meeting with journalists in Derry, he warned about the dwindling timeline and the disparity between the existing funds and what’s needed for the escalating costs of the project.
Mr. Benn did not disclose the current cost projection for renovating the dilapidated GAA stadium in west Belfast, which is slated to host five contests in the European football tournament. However, the unavailability of sufficient funds has cast a shadow over the completion of the project in time to comply with Uefa’s stipulation – the need for the venue to be ready a year prior to the tournament’s initiation.
The Northern Secretary emphasised the urgency to resolve two main issues – cost and deadline, however he shied away from divulging any expected outcomes. “There’s a practical challenge here. The question boils down to whether we can generate sufficient funding, which has to include contributions from the UK government, and even then, can the construction be done timely? The deadline, unfortunately, is as soon as June of 2027, an exceptionally tight timeline,” he asserted. He did mention they were making diligent efforts and hoped for some flexibility from Uefa.
In the same conference, Mr. Benn was questioned over earlier comments made by ex-police ombudsman, Nuala O’Loan. She had proposed that the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR) ought to be replaced by a new entity with full investigative powers.
The International Commission on the Resolution of Ireland’s Remains (ICRIR) was established in the major conflict of the much-debated Troubles Legacy Act. The act is something the recently formed Labour government is adamant on canceling, however, they have expressed desires to keep the ICRIR in action if it receives backing from the grieving families involved.
Mr. Benn made it explicit that he has no intention of disbanding the commission, the rationale being that a recreation would appear almost identical to the current one, which he considered rather pointless. He stated his unwavering trust in ICRIR’s lead commissioner, Declan Morgan. He affirmed his resolution to ensure a procedure in harmony with the European Convention on Human Rights.
He stressed to the public to disregard the initial reason behind the Legacy Act by the preceding government and instead evaluate what he assures his party plans to achieve based on its own credibility.
The ICRIR, on Thursday, published both polling and focus group results. It revealed that roughly 63% of people surveyed in Northern Ireland were sceptical about the potential success of the commission in achieving reconciliation.
With the government standing firm on its viewpoint regarding the cancellation of conditional immunity and asserting the commission’s continuity, it now rests on us to validate our approach to delivering favourable outcomes for victims, their relatives, and survivors, stated Mr. Morgan.