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The news that the Secretary of the State Shaun Woodward has
agreed to introduce new legislation which will change the
Criminal Damage Order is welcome.
It comes after long years of lobbying by the Orange Institution,
which has borne the brunt of a cultural war against the Protestant
identity.
During those years many brethren suffered the heartbreak
of their halls being attacked.
And the headache of trying to extract Chief Constable's certificates
which put them on the path to compensation.
At a meeting with then Secretary of State Peter Hain, we
were promised that legislation would follow if necessary.
Attempts were subsequently made to backtrack on this commitment,
once Mr. Hain had left office.
Thanks to the determination of the Grand Orange Lodge leadership,
and the support of politicians from the Democratic Unionist,
Ulster Unionist and Alliance parties the Orange Institution
has won through.
It is a particular victory for brethren in small rural halls
across the country, for our Institution in general and for
common sense.
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