MP blasts ‘unprovoked’ attack on Orange hall

Part of a wire-grilled cage around a north Belfast Orange hall was removed in a ‘move towards normality’ just a few days before it was targeted in a petrol bomb attack it has been revealed.

DUP MP Nigel Dodds said that the cage at the hall at Clifton Street had taken down in a bid to help regeneration in the area.

He was speaking following Tuesday night's attack, which he blasted as "unprovoked" and "sectarian".

Petrol bombs were thrown at the hall as Orange brethren were meeting inside the building at around 10pm.

No one was injured and damage was superficial.

Mr Dodds said the incident had aimed to raise tensions even further "in a week when republicans have tried to hold communities in North Belfast to ransom with their hijackings and violence".

He continued; "Now it seems that the objective is to raise sectarian tension by attacking this major Orange hall in the constituency.

"Clearly there are people out there who cannot reconcile themselves to democracy or moving forwards. They should be ostracised and brought to justice."

An Orange Order spokesman said the attack was "very clearly an attempt to create tension in the community".

Local DUP councillor William Humphrey described it as sick and sectarian.

Cllr Humphrey, who has been working with the Trustees and Hall Management Committee to improve the exterior of the building, also appealed for calm.

"Those who were responsible for last night's attack have nothing to offer society but evil," he said.

"These criminals need to get off the backs of decent people and we must all work to isolate them within society. They need to understand that there will be no going back."

But he stressed: "Those behind this crime against the community, need to know that they will not deflect the Orange Institution nor hinder or diminish our role within society."

Nationalist politicians, including Sinn Fein, have also condemned the petrol bombing, described it as "political vandalism".

He said: "The community was happy with the Orange Order's recent decision to remove the protective steel cage surrounding the hall and this is the thanks they get.

"Those who carried out this attack are trying to provoke a reaction and the local community will stand strong against them."

Sinn Fein North Belfast Assemblywoman Caral Ni Chuilin said there was no justification behind the attack other than blatant sectarianism.

"The Orange hall has just had its protective shutters removed as local community and political representatives are working hard on the ground to improve and enhance community relations alongside trying to develop the overall appearance of one of the main arterial routes into north Belfast," she said.

"Any attacks of this nature need to be stopped immediately and those behind the attack need to realise there is no support whatsoever for this kind of activity from our communities." 2nd April 2009 News Letter

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