Police probe Orange Hall arson attacks
Police are investigating the third arson attack on an Orange hall in Tyrone in the past week. The front of the building on the Tullymoan Road in Strabane was damaged after a tyre was placed against a door and set alight.
Officers discovered the blaze shortly before lam on Saturday. "It is believed a car was heard speeding away from the scene a short time before the fire was spotted," a police spokeswoman said.
SDLP West Tyrone Assembly member Eugene McMenamin condemned the attack, the third in the area in the last six days, as "an attack on the Protestant community",
"This is totally outrageous. I am absolutely sickened that yet again certain people within our community carry out such violent acts of intimidation," he said.
"I said earlier this week that arson attacks on any public hall is wrong and achieves nothing, but it looks like those responsible are intent on causing widespread damage."
Mr McMenamin said everyone in Strabane must realise that such actions are unacceptable.
"It does not matter if it's a Protestant hall or a Catholic hall - criminal damage is wrong," he said,
"Morally it cannot be justified as this is clearly an attack on the whole Protestant community in Strabane.
"Those immature thugs who are carrying out such attacks do not do so in the name of the Strabane people. They must stop immediately."
Police were already investigating a possible link between attacks on halls at Douglas Bridge near Strabane and Garvetagh Road in Castlederg.
The arsonists responsible for the Douglas Bridge attack, which took place last Wednesday night, also used tyres to start a blaze, causing damage to the front door and smoke damage inside the building.
The hall had previously been plastered with anti-Protestant graffiti.
Last Monday's attack in Castlederg caused extensive damage.
UUP MLA Derek Hussey last week vowed that Orange halls attacked would be cleaned up and put back into use. News Letter 10th January 2005
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