Casement Park inquiry: Call for Nelson McCausland to step down

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-33365353

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The DUP's Nelson McCausland is under pressure to step down as chairman of the inquiry into safety issues at Casement Park stadium.

The inquiry is investigating plans to transform the stadium into a modern 38,000-seater Gaelic games venue.

Mr McCausland is a former sports minister and it is alleged that means there is a conflict of interest.

Officials are taking legal advice on the issue after calls from Sinn Féin and the SDLP for him to step aside.

The parties say that documents show that Mr McCausland was involved in the early stages of the Casement Park project in his previous role as sports minister and should be a witness to the inquiry, not chairing it.

Mr McCausland denied there was any conflict of interest, but said Stormont officials were now taking legal advice on the issue.

The legal advice may not come for a number of weeks.

In the meantime, Mr McCausland will stay as chair of the inquiry, which is being held by the Culture, Arts and Leisure Committee at Stormont.

There were stormy scenes as the parties discussed the issue on Thursday morning.

The DUP's Gordon Dunne criticised the SDLP and Sinn Féin, accusing them of trying to undermine the inquiry into safety at Casement Park.

Mr Dunne said: "They've circled the wagons, the green wagons, on every opportunity to try and frustrate this inquiry."

Sinn Féin's Rosie McCorley described the remark as "scurrilous".