A legal challenge by a residents’ group against a decision to grant planning approval for the redevelopment of the GAA’s Casement Park in Belfast has been dismissed.
The Mooreland and Owenvarragh Residents Association (Mora) had taken a judicial review over the decision by former infrastructure minister Nichola Mallon to approve the 34,000-plus capacity stadium in the west of the city.
The GAA’s efforts to develop the old stadium site at Casement Park have been mired in controversy, with a previous planning approval for a 38,000-capacity venue quashed by the High Court in 2014 following a challenge by Mora.
A revised planning application was subsequently submitted and approved by Ms Mallon.
The ex-SDLP minister lost her Stormont seat at the recent Assembly election.
Mora had argued her decision was unlawful on both planning grounds and on constitutional grounds, in the latter instance arguing that Ms Mallon should have sought the approval of other executive ministers under the terms of Stormont’s ministerial code.
Delivering judgment in the case at Belfast High Court today, Mr Justice Humphreys said all arguments advanced by Mora on planning issues were “without merit”.
He said Ms Mallon’s failure to secure wider Executive approval represented a “technical breach” of legislation but used the court’s discretion to uphold her decision regardless, noting that no Executive ministers were opposed to the redevelopment.
The constitutional aspect of the challenge centred on legislation passed in 2020.
The Executive Committee (Functions) Act clarified the circumstances within which ministers can make decisions without needing the approval of the wider administration and enabled the infrastructure minister to make significant planning decisions without recourse to other ministers.
Crucially, however, after the Act was passed, the corresponding Ministerial Code governing the conduct of Stormont ministers was not updated to reflect the legislative changes.
So, under the terms of the code, when Ms Mallon made the Casement Park decision, she was still required to seek executive approval for significant or controversial planning decisions.
Mr Justice Humphreys acknowledged this was a technical breach of the legislation but he said the planning decision should still be upheld.
In making the discretionary judgment, he cited several factors.
The judge said there was “no evidence that any minister disagreed with the decision to grant planning permission for Casement Park” and said Ms Mallon had provided papers to her ministerial colleagues informing them of her intention to grant approval.
“This was not a solo run by the minister, in that she kept her executive colleagues informed as to her intentions,” he said.
The judge said the commitment to redevelop the stadium was also agreed in the New Decade, New Approach deal that restored power-sharing in 2020.
The judge also noted that the Department of Communities, which is the majority funder of the project, “expressly supported” the planning decision.
The judge said the fact the planning grounds for appeal had been rejected was also a factor.
Finally, he highlighted there had “already been significant delay and there is considerable public interest in this project”.
He concluded: “So, for all the reasons set out, the application for judicial review is dismissed.”
Ulster GAA welcomed the ruling.
"Today’s ruling by Mr. Justice Humphreys is truly momentous for the Gaels of Antrim and Ulster and the GAA at national level, who dismissed the legal challenge against the granting of planning permission for Casement Park. The decision was clear, unambiguous and emphatic."
The statement continued: "Our full efforts will now be focused on continuing to work with the Department for the Communities and its Regional Stadia Team, finalising all remaining aspects of the business case, implementing our extensive and far-reaching community engagement and benefits programme as we move towards the construction phase of the project.
"Finally, we thank Gaels and the community of West Belfast for their overwhelming support and strength of voice throughout this process. To those that are opposed to the project I would like to assure them that we will be good neighbours, working closely with everyone throughout construction and when operational to bring positive benefits to the whole community."
Infrastructure Minister John O’Dowd said: "The redevelopment of this stadium will unlock a brighter future for west Belfast and beyond. It will not only provide the much needed, modern facilities required for Gaelic games in Belfast and for the Ulster GAA family but it will also provide many other economic and social benefits for the local community and local businesses.”
.@CommunitiesNI Minister @DeirdreHargey has said “My Department will continue to engage with the GAA and other stakeholders to get Casement built.” @deptinfra @UlsterGAA @AntrimGAA pic.twitter.com/TbOxjQOklS
— Communities NI (@CommunitiesNI) May 31, 2022
Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey said the court judgment represented a “really positive day” for the GAA.
She told reporters at Stormont: “We have had a generation of young people now who have not had the opportunity to play in Casement Park and now after today’s judgment we move at pace in terms of making sure that we can get Casement Park built, to ensure that we do have a stadium that is fit for purpose and to really showcase the sports offering that we have here across the island and across these islands as well.”
The last projected build cost for Casement Park stadium was £110 million, having originally been estimated at £77.5 million when the plan was first developed.
However, it is expected the delay caused by the court challenge combined with soaring inflation rates could see the final cost reach well in excess of £110 million.
Asked whether the approval of the wider Stormont Executive would be required to release additional funds for the build, Minister Deirdre Hargey insisted the devolved administration had already signed off on the wider project.
The minister said the finances were “secure” but she said it was “too early” to give an indication on the final bill.
“I think this has been a priority of the Executive, the Executive signed off on this as part of the regional stadia priority,” she said.
“So, the decision has already been made.”
