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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Work begins on Maze prison site | Work begins on Maze prison site |
| (3 days later) | |
| Work to transform the former Maze prison site in County Antrim into a proposed national stadium has begun. | Work to transform the former Maze prison site in County Antrim into a proposed national stadium has begun. |
| The government's proposals for the 360 acre site near Lisburn include a 42-000 seat multi-sports arena and "centre for conflict transformation". | The government's proposals for the 360 acre site near Lisburn include a 42-000 seat multi-sports arena and "centre for conflict transformation". |
| Work is under way to demolish the Old Nissen huts, where hundreds of people were held without trial in 1971. | Work is under way to demolish the Old Nissen huts, where hundreds of people were held without trial in 1971. |
| The Maze was once the main prison in Northern Ireland for sentenced republican and loyalist paramilitaries. | The Maze was once the main prison in Northern Ireland for sentenced republican and loyalist paramilitaries. |
| Most prisoners were released in 1999 under the Good Friday Agreement. | Most prisoners were released in 1999 under the Good Friday Agreement. |
| The last four prisoners were transferred from the prison in September 2000. | The last four prisoners were transferred from the prison in September 2000. |
| 'Mission to transform' | 'Mission to transform' |
| On Monday, the initial demolition work began on "Cage 20", which housed republican prisoners. | On Monday, the initial demolition work began on "Cage 20", which housed republican prisoners. |
| The demolition is expected to take more than a year to complete, with the second phase beginning early next year with the clearing of the main site. | The demolition is expected to take more than a year to complete, with the second phase beginning early next year with the clearing of the main site. |
| However, one of the H-blocks is to be retained. Concrete will be crushed and recycled in the new construction. | However, one of the H-blocks is to be retained. Concrete will be crushed and recycled in the new construction. |
| H6, the prison hospital, where the republican hunger strikers died in 1981, and a compound, will be preserved. | H6, the prison hospital, where the republican hunger strikers died in 1981, and a compound, will be preserved. |
| One of the H-blocks is to be retained | One of the H-blocks is to be retained |
| Northern Ireland Office minister David Hanson said: "Clearing the site will be part of the mission to transform it into a symbol of economic and social regeneration, renewal and growth." | Northern Ireland Office minister David Hanson said: "Clearing the site will be part of the mission to transform it into a symbol of economic and social regeneration, renewal and growth." |
| Mr Hanson added: "The demolition of the Maze/Long Kesh, leaving only those former prison buildings which have been given statutory protection, marks a further step towards achieving the goal of a new future for the site, a future that can be shared by the whole community." | Mr Hanson added: "The demolition of the Maze/Long Kesh, leaving only those former prison buildings which have been given statutory protection, marks a further step towards achieving the goal of a new future for the site, a future that can be shared by the whole community." |
| The beginning of the demolition work was welcomed by the Maze/Long Kesh Monitoring Group. | The beginning of the demolition work was welcomed by the Maze/Long Kesh Monitoring Group. |
| Its chair, DUP assembly member Edwin Poots, said: the work signified "a clear demonstration that the Maze/Long Kesh proposals are gathering further momentum and represent a major step forward to reshape this site". | Its chair, DUP assembly member Edwin Poots, said: the work signified "a clear demonstration that the Maze/Long Kesh proposals are gathering further momentum and represent a major step forward to reshape this site". |
| Mr Poots said Sinn Fein had given an assurance that the conflict transformation centre would not become "a republican shrine". | Mr Poots said Sinn Fein had given an assurance that the conflict transformation centre would not become "a republican shrine". |
| Vice chair, Sinn Fein's Paul Butler, said the listed prison buildings "can play a huge role in the transformation from conflict to peace". | Vice chair, Sinn Fein's Paul Butler, said the listed prison buildings "can play a huge role in the transformation from conflict to peace". |