Northern Ireland still needs a modern football stadium but, because it had to cater for other sports and would only be used to its 38,500 capacity twice a year, the £379m cost could not possibly be justified.

That is the considered view of the accountants and, as Finance Minister and First Minister in waiting, Peter Robinson could hardly go against them.

He has concluded that such a massive expenditure, which has tripled since the original estimate, could not justify the benefits from football, rugby and GAA sharing the same stadium.

While some will regret the loss of the stadium dream, many more will be relieved that arguments over the Maze site and the preservation of a nearby H-Block as a conflict transformation centre can be laid to rest.

Since the two were inextricably linked, by Sinn Fein, the stadium might never have had universal public appeal.

In principle, the idea of a stadium that could be both a showpiece and an inclusive venue for every sport, as well as the biggest concerts, was immensely attractive.

There are too few cross-community venues anywhere and the various sporting authorities had agreed to make use of it, if only for a few days in the year.

But not only were there plans to improve the existing GAA and rugby grounds, but the IFA was decidedly lukewarm about the move to the Maze, much preferring any Belfast site.

All the evidence, from around the world, is that the most successful stadiums are in big cities, which have all the facilities on hand and which fans can reach on foot.

Even if there had been overwhelming public support for the Maze, however, the cost factor would have ruled it out.

While the land came free, courtesy of HM Government, it would have needed road and rail links, as well as all the spectator facilities available in any city.

And because GAA needs a much bigger playing area than football and rugby, the stadium's capacity had to be bigger, too, and less economical.

Although some will say Mr Robinson has taken a political decision, because unionists fear the stadium's association with a hunger strike "shrine" , it can easily be defended on financial grounds.

It could have been a costly white elephant, eating up precious Government resources and needing constant subsidies, like Belfast's under-used leisure centres.

Both GAA and rugby can carry on playing, using their improved grounds, but the IFA faces a real crisis, as Windsor Park, its international home, is so sub-standard that all Northern Ireland games may have to be played away.

That would be an unacceptable tragedy, in the Healy era, and the football authorities and the Executive must address it.