A LEADING Antrim GAA figure has accused the National Trust of "threatening" a club where he is trustee over criticism he made of the conservation charity online.
Dr John McSparran – a former Antrim GAA county board chairman – said the National Trust warned that his online comments could impact on the renewal of Cushendun hurling club's lease.
The GP has been critical of the Trust in recent weeks, accusing it of not properly investing and promoting areas of the coastal village under its stewardship.
Dr McSparran, who is a trustee of Cushendun GAA, accused the Trust of trying to silence his criticism.
He expressed concern that the Trust could impose "less favourable terms" on the club's lease, which is due for renewal.
"They are supposed to be a charitable organisation of national or international renown and this is the sort of thing they are engaged in – it's just ridiculous," he said.
The row began last week when an official from the National Trust, which owns the land used by Cushendun GAC, contacted the club's secretary about Dr McSparran's Facebook posts.
Dr McSparran said the club was told "such criticism could be taken into consideration when the terms of the new lease for the hurling club were being finalised" and they "might be less favourable than they would have been".
The 51-year-old said he then contacted the same Trust official and "explained that I wasn't acting on behalf of the club and I'm entitled to have my opinion".
"He said that he considered because I was a trustee that I had a 'business relationship' with the National Trust," he said.
Dr McSparran said the official told him the lease of the hurling club was currently being finalised, and "the terms of that lease might not be as favourable as they could have been as a result of my actions, and I should give consideration to not posting any more negative posts".
The father-of-two added: "To be perfectly honest I was glad that I had awakened the beast, because the difficulty people have is getting any response from the National Trust."
In a series of lengthy Facebook posts in recent weeks that have been widely shared online, Dr McSparran made a series of criticisms of the National Trust.
They included accusing the Trust of rejecting various investment opportunities; allowing properties including Glenmona House to remain vacant; failing to clean and dredge the harbour; providing little space to Cushendun in promotional material; and evicting a chip van from a harbour-side car park.
"I would just call it the abandoned village, because their inaction and obstruction have failed to allow Cushendun – a beautiful, scenic seaside village – to capitalise on its natural assets," he said.
He added: "I want them to recognise that the clubs and individuals within Cushendun are stakeholders as well as the National Trust in the properties.
"I want them to engage in a proper, accountable basis with the various clubs and representatives so that proper answers can be given as to why things are not happening."
David Morgan, secretary of Cushendun GAC, distanced the club from Dr McSparran's views of the National Trust.
"The hurling club has always had a good working relationship with the National Trust," he said.
"Any opinions that John has expressed are purely and utterly a personal matter and they are not the views of the hurling club."
Asked whether the Trust had suggested to him that Dr McSparran's comments could affect the club's lease, Mr Morgan said:
"That is a matter between us and the National Trust, and it's not for public discussion."
In a statement last night the National Trust said it had renewed a lease with the GAA club.
It added that the Trust was "committed to protecting all the special places in our care including Cushendun" saying it is involved in an number of "ongoing conservation projects in the village".
"We recognise the significance of this special place and as we move towards the creation of a vision for Cushendun, we will engage with the local community in helping us shape the future of the village."
