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Casement Park: GAA says Hillsborough-style disaster warning 'hysterical' | Casement Park: GAA says Hillsborough-style disaster warning 'hysterical' |
(about 20 hours later) | |
The GAA has described claims that design flaws in the proposed new Casement Park stadium could lead to a Hillsborough-style disaster as "unfounded and hysterical". | The GAA has described claims that design flaws in the proposed new Casement Park stadium could lead to a Hillsborough-style disaster as "unfounded and hysterical". |
GAA Ulster Secretary Danny Murphy said the claims, made earlier this year at a Stormont committee, were false. | GAA Ulster Secretary Danny Murphy said the claims, made earlier this year at a Stormont committee, were false. |
Mr Murphy described the comparison, made by a safety expert, as "wildly inaccurate, unfounded and hysterical". | Mr Murphy described the comparison, made by a safety expert, as "wildly inaccurate, unfounded and hysterical". |
He was giving evidence to the Culture, Arts and Leisure Committee at Stormont. | He was giving evidence to the Culture, Arts and Leisure Committee at Stormont. |
The GAA defended the Casement Park stadium project, insisting it would never jeopardise crowd safety. | The GAA defended the Casement Park stadium project, insisting it would never jeopardise crowd safety. |
It dismissed claims that it had ignored fundamental flaws in the design of the stadium planned for west Belfast. | It dismissed claims that it had ignored fundamental flaws in the design of the stadium planned for west Belfast. |
The director general of the GAA, Páraic Duffy, told the committee that safety issues were "paramount" to the organisation. | The director general of the GAA, Páraic Duffy, told the committee that safety issues were "paramount" to the organisation. |
He also said that the GAA had an "exemplary safety record". | He also said that the GAA had an "exemplary safety record". |
During Thursday's hearing, Mr Murphy produced an email that he claimed showed that a stadium safety expert was largely supportive of the design for the new Casement Park. | During Thursday's hearing, Mr Murphy produced an email that he claimed showed that a stadium safety expert was largely supportive of the design for the new Casement Park. |
Earlier this year, Paul Scott of the Safety Technical Group told the committee there were fundamental flaws in its design, with insufficient emergency exits. | Earlier this year, Paul Scott of the Safety Technical Group told the committee there were fundamental flaws in its design, with insufficient emergency exits. |
'Consensus' | 'Consensus' |
He said he had been privately warning about this for the previous two years. | He said he had been privately warning about this for the previous two years. |
Mr Murphy read out an email that he said Mr Scott sent to a Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure official. | Mr Murphy read out an email that he said Mr Scott sent to a Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure official. |
In the email dated 23 August 2013, Mr Scott wrote: "There appears to be a consensus that the latest proposals address the exiting concerns." | In the email dated 23 August 2013, Mr Scott wrote: "There appears to be a consensus that the latest proposals address the exiting concerns." |
It is not clear from the email whether Mr Scott was referring to general exiting arrangements or emergency exiting at the west Belfast stadium project. | It is not clear from the email whether Mr Scott was referring to general exiting arrangements or emergency exiting at the west Belfast stadium project. |
In April, Mr Scott told the committee that the 38,000-capacity stadium in west Belfast could not be evacuated safely in certain emergencies. | In April, Mr Scott told the committee that the 38,000-capacity stadium in west Belfast could not be evacuated safely in certain emergencies. |
He claimed his concerns were ignored and he was being "bullied" into dropping his objections. | He claimed his concerns were ignored and he was being "bullied" into dropping his objections. |
In December 2014, a High Court judge ruled that Environment Minister Mark H Durkan had acted unlawfully in approving a new stadium. | In December 2014, a High Court judge ruled that Environment Minister Mark H Durkan had acted unlawfully in approving a new stadium. |
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