The builder at the centre of a controversy over proposals to build a visitor centre at the Giant's Causeway in Co Antrim has insisted he has no special relationship with First Minister, the Rev Ian Paisley, and his junior Minister son, Ian jnr.
North Antrim businessman Seymour Sweeney contended at a Belfast press conference yesterday that his plans for a visitor centre at the world heritage site would provide a multimillion-pound tourist benefit for the area.
Sinn Féin, SDLP and other politicians had claimed there was a potential conflict of interest over Mr Sweeney's application because of associations with Dr Paisley and Mr Paisley, and because of his membership of the DUP, a party he joined in the last "three or four years".
Dr Paisley and Mr Paisley jnr have publicly supported Mr Sweeney's application to establish privately a £35 million visitor centre on his lands at the Giant's Causeway. This would override an original plan to build a £21 million publicly funded centre at the Giant's Causeway, which is currently run by the British National Trust.
DUP Environment Minister Arlene Foster has stated she is "minded" to grant Mr Sweeney permission to construct the centre on his property and to drop the public proposal to establish the site on land owned by Moyle District Council.
The issue generated controversy because of Mr Sweeney's DUP membership, and because he knows the Paisleys. Mr Paisley jnr bought a property from him near Bushmills, Co Antrim.
Mr Sweeney said all aspects of his association with the Paisleys were above board. He said that not only did Mr Paisley pay the full market value for his property but that he had to pay £7,500 extra because it was an end-of-terrace house.
"No money whatsoever was given by me or by any of my companies to any political party, including the DUP," he said. "There is no special relationship between Ian Paisley senior, Ian Paisley jnr and myself," he added.
Mr Sweeney said he did not join the DUP for commercial reasons but because he was impressed with the positive attitude of the Paisleys in their political commitment to improve the economic and social situation in north Antrim.
The Giant's Causeway has been without a visitor centre since the original facility was burnt down in 2000. In 2006 the site attracted just over 550,000 visitors.
