Political parties have clashed at Belfast City Hall over the British government’s announcement that it will not be providing funding to redevelop the Casement Park GAA stadium in time for the 2028 Euros tournament.
There were hot exchanges as the chamber agreed, without full support, to write to Hilary Benn, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, and Prime Minister Keir Starmer, to urge the government to fulfil its previous commitment to the stadium.
A Sinn Féin motion was passed on a show of hands at a special meeting of the full Belfast City Council on Wednesday evening, but without support from the unionist parties.
The motion also urges the council to write to Taoiseach Simon Harris along with the relevant Executive ministers requesting that all parties involved come together to fulfil the commitment to delivering Casement Park.
The motion states: “This council expresses deep disappointment that the British government has failed to honour its commitment regarding the Euro 2028 bid for Belfast, particularly the investment in Casement Park, a catalyst project for economic regeneration in west Belfast.
“The involvement of Belfast in the Euro 2028 bid presented us with a once in a generation opportunity to showcase the very best of Belfast to an international audience with the economic benefits being felt across a range of industries in the city and beyond.
“Casement Park must now be delivered regardless of the outcome of the Euro 2028 bid, as it still represents a vital investment in the city’s infrastructure and community.”
Sinn Féin councillor Ciaran Beattie, who proposed the motion, said: “The biggest losers are the people of Belfast.
“Not only the GAA fraternity, but also the soccer fraternity, it’s the people who live in this city, the taxis, the businesses, the bars, the restaurants, the hoteliers, all of those who would have benefitted massively from bringing the Euros to Belfast.”
SDLP councillor Paul Doherty said: “It is extremely disappointing that it seems some people were happy at this decision, simply because they didn’t want to see the stadium being built for the Euros in west Belfast.
“I struggle to find words for that. And people looking in on this place have no words for that either.”
Alliance councillor David Bell said: “It could have done more for community relations and breaking down barriers than anything we could have ever legislated for”.
DUP councillor Sarah Bunting also said if the “UK government agrees to allocate funding towards Casement Park, then there must be a fair and equitable allocation of funding towards football and rugby”.
In a vote of hands, 31 elected representatives supported the Sinn Féin motion, and 15 voted against.
