Vandals paintball Crumlin Orange Hall for the second time
THE CHAIRPERSON of the Orange Hall Committee in Crumlin has described a paintbomb attack of the hall on July 13 as ‘sickening’.
Tommy Ross said he was disappointed and annoyed at the attack, the second this year, during which vandals splashed green paint on walls, doors and windows of the hall.
“It is very disappointing that this should happen after a time when it has been so quiet,” he said. “We spent £400 painting the hall and getting it ready for the Twelfth after it was paintbombed before.
“Now we have to spend more money to fix this. It is disappointing and annoying to say the least.”
Police believe the attack happened sometime between 11pm on Monday and 10am on Tuesday.
Local SDLP MLA Thomas Burns said the incident just caused pain and hardship and branded the attack ‘pointless.’
“This vandalism is no doubt done in sympathy with the rioters in Ardoyne and it was equally pointless,” he said.
“Neither the rioters nor the paintbombers can achieve anything positive for the communities they claim to represent. They can only do harm and destroy. They cause pain and hardship and unnecessary expense to taxpayers and ratepayers.
“Our whole community wants to live in peace, wants to find peaceful resolution to the parading issue and every other issue.
“We haven’t quite got there yet, but that’s where we are all going, and we are not going to be stopped by thugs and vandals.”
Antrim Alliance Councillor Alan Lawther said: “This was a sickening attack on a community resource. Attacks of this nature can hurt the whole community and raise tensions.
“We need to see people acting responsibly as we move forward to a better future.
“I simply cannot understand what people hope to achieve be carrying out acts of this nature. Those who want to cause instability must not succeed and incidents like this should strengthen people’s efforts to ensure good community relations.
“Those who get involved in incidents of this nature must be brought to justice and I would appeal to anyone with information to contact police immediately.”
