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Casement Park inquiry: Department 'told of safety concerns' Casement Park inquiry: Department 'told of safety concerns'
(35 minutes later)
An assembly committee has been told the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure (DCAL) was warned of safety risks in the Casement Park project over a series of months and years.An assembly committee has been told the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure (DCAL) was warned of safety risks in the Casement Park project over a series of months and years.
The DCAL committee is holding another hearing as part of its inquiry into the GAA stadium project.The DCAL committee is holding another hearing as part of its inquiry into the GAA stadium project.
In April, safety expert Paul Scott said he was put under "undue pressure" to approve plans for the new stadium.In April, safety expert Paul Scott said he was put under "undue pressure" to approve plans for the new stadium.
On Thursday, a Sports NI official said the department was told of concerns.On Thursday, a Sports NI official said the department was told of concerns.
Plans to transform Casement Park into a modern 38,000-seater Gaelic games stadium were approved in December 2013.Plans to transform Casement Park into a modern 38,000-seater Gaelic games stadium were approved in December 2013.
However, in December last year a High Court judge ruled that Environment Minister Mark H Durkan had acted unlawfully in approving a new stadium.However, in December last year a High Court judge ruled that Environment Minister Mark H Durkan had acted unlawfully in approving a new stadium.
In April, Mr Scott told the Culture, Arts and Leisure Committee that he had warned that the 38,000-capacity stadium could not be evacuated safely in certain emergencies.In April, Mr Scott told the Culture, Arts and Leisure Committee that he had warned that the 38,000-capacity stadium could not be evacuated safely in certain emergencies.
Mr Scott, of the Safety Technical Group (STG), said pressure exerted upon him had been "so significant" he had no choice but to raise a complaint.Mr Scott, of the Safety Technical Group (STG), said pressure exerted upon him had been "so significant" he had no choice but to raise a complaint.
He told the committee that he had been expressing concerns about the stadium design for two years.He told the committee that he had been expressing concerns about the stadium design for two years.
'Panic and crushing''Panic and crushing'
Among those giving evidence on Wednesday are Sport NI's Andrew Sloan and Nick Harkness.Among those giving evidence on Wednesday are Sport NI's Andrew Sloan and Nick Harkness.
Mr Harkness said communication between Sport NI and DCAL since March 2013 warned of a "potential for risk".Mr Harkness said communication between Sport NI and DCAL since March 2013 warned of a "potential for risk".
He said the documents illustrated that the "risk of potential panic or crushing and the need for the provision of additional emergency exiting" were "all communicated over a series of months and years".He said the documents illustrated that the "risk of potential panic or crushing and the need for the provision of additional emergency exiting" were "all communicated over a series of months and years".
He said this included the deputy and permanent secretary of the department being told.He said this included the deputy and permanent secretary of the department being told.
Mr Harkness said concerns about emergency exiting were brought to the attention of officials.Mr Harkness said concerns about emergency exiting were brought to the attention of officials.
"I cannot think of words that would express more seriously a concern around emergency exiting other than the words panic and crushing," he said."I cannot think of words that would express more seriously a concern around emergency exiting other than the words panic and crushing," he said.
Mr Harkness said at a meeting on 13 February 2014 "there was confirmation and acceptance from DCAL officials that there was an issue around emergency exiting".Mr Harkness said at a meeting on 13 February 2014 "there was confirmation and acceptance from DCAL officials that there was an issue around emergency exiting".
"It was reassuring that the advice we had given was in fact understood," he said."It was reassuring that the advice we had given was in fact understood," he said.
He later said that recommendations by the Safety Technical Group "in terms of measures to provide sufficient emergency exiting" were not reflected in the stadium design at the pre-planning stage.
He said this was in contrast to Windsor Park football stadium in Belfast.
'Goes against evidence''Goes against evidence'
David Hilditch of the DUP said the Sport NI official's testimony "goes against evidence which has been produced to date by officials".David Hilditch of the DUP said the Sport NI official's testimony "goes against evidence which has been produced to date by officials".
He said the committee would have to make a few decisions as to whether they bring certain people back to answer further questions.He said the committee would have to make a few decisions as to whether they bring certain people back to answer further questions.
Mr Sloan said officials from the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure attended early meetings of the STGs.Mr Sloan said officials from the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure attended early meetings of the STGs.
He said that in August 2013, the regional stadium programme architect advised that the department was "very busy and did not have the time to attend the meetings and did not require any meeting notes".He said that in August 2013, the regional stadium programme architect advised that the department was "very busy and did not have the time to attend the meetings and did not require any meeting notes".