Paisley rules out Ormeau national stadium

Northern Ireland First Minister Ian Paisley has ruled out Ormeau Park in Belfast as a potential option for a national sports stadium, saying it would affect five churches in the area, including his own.

Mr Paisley said that Sunday greyhound racing at a stadium could interfere with Sunday Schools in the area.

He said: “It will not be and I’m told it cannot be under the planning act.”

Sports Minister Edwin Poots yesterday confirmed three Olympic football matches could be played in the country if the new national stadium was ready by 2012.

He has set a deadline of the end of this month for alternative proposals for the 60-acre development at the former Maze Prison.

Mr Poots said: “Seb Coe has granted three football matches if we proceed with the stadium in Northern Ireland.

“Currently the outline business case is close to a completion and working towards a full business case for October of this year.

“The full business case has to be able to demonstrate that there’s no resource implications, that the stadium can actually pay for itself.”

On Wednesday, research commissioned by the council suggested a new national sports stadium should have an urban setting.

The findings went against proposals for the 35,000-seater GAA, football and rugby stadium at the Maze site.

“Seldom have we experienced such overwhelming evidece for the in-town location,” the report said.

(JM)