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The Orange Order organised a special event, on Monday, September
21, to show the impact of terrorism on the Institution.
More than 300 members of the Orange Order were murdered during
the Troubles, almost one in ten of the people killed.
The United Nations has designated September 21 each year
as International Day of Peace and the Grand Orange Lodge organised
a special event to brief opinion formers about the cost of
terrorism.
David Hume, Director of Services, said:
"Our experience has shown that the Protestant community,
for a variety of reasons, has been unwilling to publicly tell
the story of terrorism's impact on it over the decades. We
believe it is important this story is both told and heard
so that a healing process can take place and that a level
of closure can be brought to bear.
"The future can only be built stronger if the pain and
suffering of the innocent victims of terrorism is remembered,
understood and appreciated."
The Orange Order organised a Day of Peace bus tour which
took opinion formers through parts of Co. Down and Co. Armagh.
They met members and friends of the Orange Order who had suffered
at the hands of terrorists.
Included on the itinerary was a visit to Tullyvallen Orange
Hall, near Newtownhamilton, where five Orangemen were shot
dead by the IRA, during a lodge meeting on September 1, 1975.
The group heard from one of the survivors of the attack, Berry
Reaney, who was shot in the arm.
Grand Master Robert Saulters led the delegation of Orangemen,
who were joined by Brendan McAllister, a Victims Commissioner,
Patricia Mallon, Alliance, Paul Stewart, DUP, Derek Hussey,
UUP, and Jim Allister, TUV. A member of the Foreign Affairs
Department from the Government of the Irish Republic also
attended.
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