Attacks on Orange halls increase to 225

Attacks on Orange halls across Northern Ireland rose to 225 last year despite the supposed ending of republican violence.

Figures to be presented to the Policing Board this morning show that 87 Orange halls were attacked in 2005, but last year this number rose significantly to 225.

DUP MLA Ian Paisley Jnr, who is also a member of the Policing Board, said: "These attacks are disgraceful and just show that there's people out there who think it's perfectly okay to attack Protestant culture - and that has got to be eradicated."

Mr Paisley said the attacks gave an insight into some republicans' thinking and showed that they are not all ready to support policing and law and order in Northern Ireland.

"I think it highlights exactly what we have been saying, there has been an increase in lawlessness and the only way we can overcome this is with full support for the police," said Mr Paisley.

"The only way we can stop them is for people to fully co-operate with and help the police and give witness evidence in court to assist in the prosecution of those who perpetrate the act."

He also called on the republican move­ment to "clean up its act" and that if they do not do so, it could prove a huge stum­bling block to political progress.

"We have a significant amount of law­lessness in the republican community," said Mr Paisley.

'They have a huge task on their hands to sign up to the rule of law because these sorts of things are one of the measure­ments the DUP will use to assess their readiness for government. We have called it a litmus test before, this is another one."

Grand Secretary of the Orange Order Drew Nelson was yesterday critical of the Government for failing to stop the rise in the number of attacks on Orange halls.

"The campaign of burning Orange halls and attacking or opposing Orange parades is an unresolved legacy of the Troubles," he said. "The Government are not taking this issue as seriously as they should.

"As Northern Ireland emerges from the Troubles, everyone's issues seem to be addressed except those of the Orange Order." News Letter 17th January 2007

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