I repeat, if it wasn't safe last week, it hasn't been safe for years.
wrong! Every airport in the UK has a list a sfatey issues which are tolerated by CAA. Some are more important than others and have to be rectified within a short timescale, some are longer. Clearly the clock ran out on Derry with regards some of their dispensations, but they are by no means unique in this regard. The interesting thing is the fact that CAA closed the place down, over the next couple of years we'll see whether they have the balls to do it to some of the bigger boys with similar issues.