Portadown District LOL No.1

Media News 2007

"Stop hate campaign against Orange"

Grand Secretay of the Orange Order Drew Nelson is calling on police to do more to stop the ‘orchestrated campaign’ of attacks on Orange Halls.

Mr Nelson, made his call during a visit to Aghadavey Orange Hall on the Glenavy Road outside Lisburn following an arson attack yesterday morning.

A hall was also attacked on the Tandragee Road, Portadown, on Friday night.

The Order says the tally of such attacks this year now stands at around 30, with PSNI clearance rates currently at less than one per cent. Grand Secretary of the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland in Aghadavey Orange Hall which was attacked by republicans

A PSNI (Police) spokeswoman said each attack is ‘robustly investigated’.

Attacks on Orange Halls "orchestrated"

The Grand Secretary of the Orange Order has called on police to provide better protection for Orange halls after another two were attacked by arsonists.

Drew Nelson said there have been upwards of 286 attacks on Orange halls since the start of the Troubles and almost 30 this year alone.

In the most recent incident police in Lisburn received reports about 4.30am yesterday about a fire at a hall on the Glenavy Road.

Smoke damage was caused to the building as well as charring to the floor.

On Friday evening Ballyworkan Orange Hall on the Tandragee Road in Portadown was attacked by arsonists, who caused extensive damage.

During the incident windows were smashed at the rear of the property, petrol was poured in and the hall set alight.

Mr Nelson said: "This has been the worst ever year for attacks on Orange halls and it is clear that it is a very well organised and orchestrated campaign against the Orange Order.

"We were able to establish through a parliamentary question that the clearance rate for attacks on Orange halls is less than one per cent.

"We are now calling on the Chief Constable to make more officers available to protect Orange halls and catch the perpetrators of these crimes."

DUP MP and Policing Board member Jeffrey Donaldson said "dissident republicans" were behind both attacks.

Mr Donaldson said at a recent meeting of the Policing Board the Chief Constable talked about the increase of attacks on Orange halls in the Province by "dissident republicans and others".

Mr Donaldson said the "others" referred to so-called freelance republicans. "These attacks have been carried out by people who are bitterly sectarian against the Protestant community."

After the Portadown attack, District Master Darryl Hewitt said it was the latest in a series of attacks on Orange halls in the area.

He said: "This would be the fifth attack in the area since the end of August. There is clearly an orchestrated campaign.

"There is a plan to raise the ante and try and get tit-for-tat attacks, where GAA or Roman Catholic churches are burnt by people from my own community, and I would appeal for that not to happen. It does not help anyone."

He added: "The police and the Northern Ireland Office seem to be playing down the possibility of a deliberate campaign, but it seems obvious to everyone else."

Other attacks in the area have occurred at Seagoe, Tamnifacarbett, Bocombra and Ballygargan.
Ulster Unionist deputy leader Danny Kennedy described the attack as "quite despicable" and said republicans were "attempting to seriously raise the political temperature, in a highly provocative manner".

Upper Bann Sinn Fein MLA John O'Dowd condemned the attack on Ballyworkan Orange Hall.

He said: "All such attacks are wrong and should stop immediately."
A police spokeswoman said: "The PSNI condemns attacks and criminal damage on all property irrespective of where it occurs 01 which community is the victim.

"We are aware of the concerns expressed bj the Orange Order and want to assure them thai we view these attacks seriously.

"Each incident is robustly investigated ant all available evidence is obtained with a view tc making any identified perpetrators account able through the criminal justice system." 17th December 2007 News Letter

Click on the related links below

Second arson attack on Orange Hall

Rise in attacks on Orange Halls

Large boulder breaks Orange Hall window

"We will rebuild Orange Hall"

Order hits out at third attack in same area

Orange anger as two halls attacked

Vandals daub paint at Ardmore Orange Hall targeted again

Memorabilia is lost in fierce blaze at Co. Tyrone Orange Hall

Seagoe Orange Hall gutted in arson attack

Shinner (Sinn Fein member) falls off Orange hall roof

Paint is thrown at Orange Hall

Car destroyed after Orange parade in Convoy

50 Orange Order halls attacked since start of July

Orange hall attacks investigated

Three Orange halls attacked by vandals

DUP MLA blasts Sinn Fein after halls are attacked

Apprentice Boys hall is attacked

'Cultural war against us must end'

Order hits out at Orde over attacks on halls

Overnight attacks at Orange Halls

Arrests after Orange Hall attack

Orange hall hit by fire attack is to be rebuilt

Orange Hall attack is condemned

Say sorry for Orange hall attacks, Order tells Adams

Orange Hall targeted in attempted arson

Attempted arson on Orange Hall

Attacks on Orange halls increase to 225

Sectarian Attack on Orange Hall