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The Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland has condemned weekend
attacks on Orange Halls in different parts of Northern Ireland.
There was an attempted arson attack on Ballykelly Orange
Hall in Co. Londonderry and republican graffiti was painted
on three Orange Halls and a Protestant Hall in the Gleneavey
and Lisburn area of Co. Antrim.
A spokesman for Grand Lodge said:
"We are extremely saddened by this latest spate of attacks
on our property right across Northern Ireland. We had hoped
these sort of attacks and this form of intimidation had stopped.
"These halls are important buildings in their local
communities and are used by a wide range of groups which include
the Orange Order, local bands, church organisations and other
cultural and community groups.
"Clearly there are people in the community who want
to create tension and division by targetting these premises
and our way of life.
"As we have said many times in the past, the only way
to react to such sectarian attacks is to work with the police
and ensure they get all the information they need to bring
charges against the people responsible.
"We would ask anyone who has the slightest information
which could help the police, to get in touch with them immediately."
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