The Grand Secretary of the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland Drew Nelson has called on Gerry Adams to apologise on behalf of the republican movement for attacks on Orange Halls during the Troubles. The 260th attack on an Orange Hall (Greencastle) was carried out at the weekend and it is time that the republican movement apologised for the orchestrated campaign of attacks on halls which started in 1989," he said.

"There has been a clear campaign since then to attack our buildings and on average 14 Orange Halls have been burnt per year - that is more than one per month.

"As we move towards a new political accommodation in Northern Ireland, now is the time for the republican movement and in particular its leader Gerry Adams to condemn and apologise for the attacks on our property."