Call For McCausland To Step Down As Chair Of Casement Inquiry

The SDLP and Sinn Fein are calling for DUP MLA Nelson McCausland to step down as Chairperson of the inquiry into the Casement Park redevelopment project.

SDLP MLA for Newry and Armagh Dominic Bradley said: "Having been Minister of Culture Arts and Leisure for part of the stadia development process, Mc Causland should stand aside now as Chair until the inquiry has reported.

"It is not good practice for a former minister to chair an inquiry into a process of which he himself was part. A simple declaration of interest does not provide the complete assurance of objectivity which the public is entitled to in all such cases.


"The only way to provide such an assurance to the public is for Mr McCausland to step aside as Chair for the duration of the inquiry. Such a move would be in keeping with best practice and would reassure the public that the inquiry is a genuine attempt to get at the truth."

Sinn Féin MLA Cathal Ó hOisín said: "Nelson McCausland was Minister for Culture Arts and Leisure until March 2011 and at that time he expressed satisfaction with a 40,000 capacity stadium at Casement.

"He is now a substantive witness to the committee inquiry into the Casement Park project. As such, it is entirely inappropriate for him to continue to chair that inquiry."

(CD/JP)