Two Orange Halls attacked overnight
Paint-bomb attacks have been carried out on two Orange Halls overnight – one in Belfast and one in the Co Antrim village of Glenavy.
The hall at Clifton Street, near Carlisle Circus in north Belfast, was targeted between 1am and 1.20am on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the hall on Glenavy’s Main Street was also vandalised in the early hours and damage was caused to the front of the building and tarmac.
Orange Order Belfast County Grand Master, Tom Haire, condemned the actions of the perpetrators and blamed republicans for attempting to raise tensions in the area.
“We deplore the paint-bombing of Clifton Street Orange Hall,” he said.
“Brethren in north Belfast have made great strides to make the hall a community facility for all and this attack was clearly carried out by people who have no respect or tolerance for a differing viewpoint.
“The Twelfth is now over and it is time for such lawlessness to stop.”
DUP North Belfast MLA William Humphrey said that those responsible for stirring up hatred and ill-feeling cannot escape their responsibility for what has happened.
“Such attacks are merely a physical manifestation of the intolerance and vilification that has no place in a civilised society,” he said.
Sinn Féin Deputy Mayor Tierna Cunningham added: “I want to condemn this attack and make it very clear that these kinds of incidents serve absolutely no purpose, other than to increase tensions for residents in the north of the city.”
Orange Order spokesman for the Glenavy District, James Tinsley, expressed anger at the incident in the village – particularly coming so soon after a peaceful Twelfth agreement was reached in Crumlin.
“It is downright despicable that Glenavy Orange Hall should be targeted in this way,” he said.
“The perpetrators have nothing to offer this society and must not be allowed to succeed in their attempt to diminish our cultural and Orange heritage.”
Local Sinn Féin MLA Mitchel McLaughlin said: “The attack on the Glenavy Orange Hall is wrong and those behind this attack do not reflect the community of Glenavy.
“Whoever is responsible are no different to those who carry out attacks on GAA halls, churches and other cultural and community facilities and they need to stop these actions immediately.”
Police are appealing for anyone with information about either incident to contact them.
