The DUP's East Antrim MP Sammy Wilson has said Tom Elliott should cease from scaremongering about the Maze/Long Kesh site and admit to the UUP's role in listing the prison buildings.

Mr Wilson branded Tom Elliott's recent comments as "utter hypocrisy".

Commenting Mr Wilson said: "Tom Elliott should cease from his scaremongering regarding the Maze/Long Kesh development. The DUP will not be party to any rewriting of history nor will we take hypocritical lectures from the UUP about the development of the site.

"The RUAS has already decided to move to Balmoral Park on the site and the EU has allocated £20m for a new self-contained and purpose built Peace Building and Conflict Resolution Centre.

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"Tom Elliott should remember that the retained buildings to which he refers were listed when the UUP was the lead Party for unionism and note it was the former UUP chairman David Campbell and chairman of the Maze consultation panel, whose 2005 report requested the retained buildings be listed and be part of the centre (see note to editors 1). The only representatives to formally oppose their listing were my Party colleagues Jeffrey Donaldson and Edwin Poots.

"As an elected representative, Tom should be aware that whenever buildings are listed they are put on a list of buildings of “special architectural or historic interest” in accordance with the Article 42 of the Planning (Northern Ireland) Order 1991. The decision to list the remaining prison buildings and hospital at the site was taken in accordance with that legislation by the direct rule administration at the request of his UUP colleague and at a time when his party was the largest unionist Party."

(CD)