The Department of Culture Arts and Leisure (DCAL) at Stormont should “show responsibility and get to the bottom of the collapsing ‘Kop’ Stand at Windsor Park”, according to the Conservative Party’s East Belfast Westminster candidate, Neil Wilson. The structure has been damaged badly by subsidence which seems to be related to excavation work taking place at the rear of the stand.
“Four thousand fans were packed into the Kop only last Sunday, just before the damage was detected”, Neil observed. “Rather than an embarrassment we could have been talking about a major tragedy with deaths and injuries, therefore there’s a heavy responsibility on DCAL to get involved in an investigation and make sure it knows exactly how this happened and how it could have been avoided. This situation also shows Northern Ireland in a very poor light, given that the stand is only twenty years old and it’s right that the Executive should take charge.”
“A thorough investigation needs to take place. Who was responsible for these problems and who appointed them? We have get to the bottom of these things and, if necessary, heads should roll. The safety of supporters must be paramount at all times. No-one’s life should ever be put at risk because they’ve gone to a sports event and that’s what happened here. The fate of the West Stand, or the Kop, as we supporters know it better, is very sad. It has been a backdrop for some great memories, both for Northern Ireland and Irish League supporters. Let’s see DCAL, in conjunction with the IFA, get to the bottom of this debacle and put things right as quickly as possible.”