Minister David Hansen with Lisburn Councillors and Maze Panel members Edwin Poots, Peter D'Hagan, Jim Dillon and Paul Butler as the Maze wall is about to be demolished. US1407-118A0.

AS the walls of the Maze Prison were reduced to rubble this week, Social Development Minister David Hanson has again repeated the government's commitment to bringing a National Stadium to the site.

Speaking as the bulldozers got to work, the Minister said: "Last Monday a political wall came down, bringing with it a new start to life in Northern Ireland with a new Assembly and power sharing Executive.

"Today we are taking down a physical wall that will open the way to an iconic development that will also be shared by all the people here."

Mr Hanson reiterated the government's commitment to bringing a National Stadium to the site and said that opposition from Belfast would not alter that.

"We have always been very clear that Belfast can make its plan but the government assessed the potential for a sports stadium and regeneration and this is the best site for the regeneration to take place," he said. "I am confident the new Executive will take forward the plans and make them a reality."

Mr Hanson also said he was 'unconvinced' opposition from Northern Ireland football fans was united.

"The views of Northern Ireland football supporters are important but I do not believe they are unanimous.

I am confident the main parties in the new Executive will want progression on this site," he added.

Mr Hanson added that although he would be leaving his Ministerial post here, he would be following the progress at the Maze with great interest. "I will be keeping a close eye on progress," he said. "I will take a very strong interest and I hope the Executive will see it through."

Maze escape tunnel is unearthed

WORKMEN who have been razing the Maze site have unearthed one of the prison's long-held secrets.

As demolition began this week, they uncovered an abandoned tunnel, which had apparently been dug by paramilitary prisoners over thirty years ago as a planned escape route.

However, it is believed the 60 Foot tunnel was abandoned as the prison's infamous H-Blocks sprang up and it remained undiscovered by prison authorities until this week. The first clue that an escape tunnel may be uncovered came when workers Found bags of dirt hidden in the roofs of Nissen huts and the outer walls of toilet blocks. The crew quickly discovered where the dirt came from when a digger fell into the collapsed tunnel.

It has been estimated that the tunnel was dug in 1975, after a fire in October 1974 destroyed many of the Nissen Huts and before the first H-blocks were opened in 1976.

Welcome for the start of demolition

THE Chair and Vice Chair of the Maze Monitoring Panel, Lisburn councillors Edwin Poots and Paul Butler, have welcomed the start of the prison's demolition.

Mr. Poots said this demonstrated 'the momentum that the Maze/Long Kesh proposals have gathered' and represented 'a major stage in the preparation for development of the site', which would "benefit growth in the region.

"Today marks the first stage in the removal of the prison wall, which so many of us have seen for decades as we pass along the M1. I look forward to a new skyline as we work to complete the task to transform this place," he added.

Mr. Butler added: "The demolition of the cages, and now the prison wall, is an important step in the delivery of the Masterplan vision of economic and social regeneration agreed by the main political parties.

"The proposed future use of the massive land area now being exposed - up to 360 acres - is an exciting prospect.

"The proposed projects for the new multi-sports stadium and International Centre for Conflict Transformation are of huge significance. "