GAA pundit Joe Brolly has hit out at a former SDLP environment minister over the handling of previous plans to redevelop Casement Park.
Mark H Durkan approved the GAA's proposals for a 38,000-seat stadium in 2013 when he was environment minister, but the decision was later quashed after a legal challenge by residents.
Speaking on Monday as he viewed the GAA's new design proposals, Brolly said: "It's unfortunate the way the last process was handled by the GAA and particularly by the minister.
"The big problem was the shortcut by the minister when he didn't do a traffic assessment."
In 2014 a judge found the impact of bigger crowds on the surrounding roads network had not been properly examined. At the time Mr Durkan described the ruling as "disappointing".
Brolly did not criticise former Sinn Féin sports minister Carál Ní Chuilín, whose department oversaw the project, claiming "direct responsibility" for its demise "came from Durkan's department".
"I think that probably in the wave of optimism that was around this they just didn't check carefully enough," the barrister and former Derry footballer said.
"It was a huge disappointment and particularly huge for the GAA."
The 47-year-old from Dungiven described the new design as "awesome" and a "no brainer".
"It will just bring this whole area alive just as Croke Park brought alive an area of inner city Dublin."
