A controversial planning application for a privately owned visitors' centre at the Giant's Causeway has been rejected by the Minister for the Environment at Stormont.
Arlene Foster said yesterday she saw "considerable merit" in the bid submitted by developer Seymour Sweeney, but had to turn it down on planning grounds.
Her decision came despite a declaration by Mrs Foster last September that she was of a mind to back the private developer.
It subsequently emerged that Mr Sweeney was a member of the DUP and that Stormont junior Minister Ian Paisley jnr had lobbied the British government to support the private bid.
The September announcement by Mrs Foster led to Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Development Nigel Dodds suspending a £21 million (€28.3 million) plan for a publicly owned visitors' centre at the north Antrim world heritage site.
That plan was based on a winning design by Róisín Heneghan of Heneghan Peng Architects in Dublin. The 60-million-year-old Giant's Causeway already attracts some 400,000 visitors a year, who used to be facilitated at a visitors' centre until it was destroyed by fire in 2000.
Ms Heneghan's design beat off some 200 competitors, mostly from outside Ireland and Britain, who submitted entries.
Heneghan Peng has also won design bids for the grand museum of Egypt, civic offices for Kildare County Council and the Carlisle pier in Dún Laoghaire.
Mrs Foster announced in the Assembly yesterday she believed the proposed plans by Mr Sweeney's business would "have an adverse impact on the world heritage site".
"I believe that it could adversely affect the character of the area," she said.
"There are serious doubts that the proposed development would adequately integrate into the landscape and it would add to the spread of development at this sensitive location."
Ulster Unionist Party MLA Danny Kennedy, in a joking reference to the demon barber of Fleet Street, said it had appeared the DUP had left Mr Sweeney on his "Todd".
The environment committee chairman, SDLP member Patsy McGlone, claimed that the decision to reject Mr Sweeney's planning application was spurred on by a move by committee members to request documents from Mrs Foster on the visitors' centre.
He also asked: "Is, in fact, the culmination of events today a case of saying to junior [ Paisley]: 'This is another fine mess you've got me into'?"
Mrs Foster reiterated her decision was based on planning grounds alone, as Mr Paisley jnr sat beside her.
A spokesman for Mr Sweeney's Seaport business said the group was "naturally disappointed by the Minister's announcement".
"We firmly believe the scheme . . . addresses all the social, economic and environmental issues presented by this very important location and it is thus capable of delivering a sustainable development second-to-none."
Mr Sweeney sought planning permission for a visitor and study centre with a grassed circular dome roof, which could accommodate up to 750,000 visitors to the Giant's Causeway every year.
His proposal also included provision for 200 parking spaces, mostly underground.