Portadown District LOL No.1

Media News 2007

Say sorry for Orange hall attacks, Order tells Adams

Gerry Adams has been urged to apologise to the Orange Order, on behalf of republicanism, for attacks on its halls during the Troubles.

The Grand Secretary of the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland, Drew Nelson, has made the call.

"The 260th attack on an Orange hall (Greencastle) was carried out at the weekend and it is time that the republican movement apologised for the orchestrated campaign of attacks on halls which started in 1989," he said.

"There has been a clear campaign since then to attack our buildings and on average 14 Orange halls have been burnt per year - that is more than one per month.

"As we move towards a new political accommodation in Northern Ireland, now is the time for the republican movement and in particular its leader Gerry Adams to condemn and apologise for the attacks on our property."

Meanwhile, the new Parades Review Body is off to a bad start, in terms of unionist confidence, because of the appointment of an alleged former IRA leader, Sean "Spike" Murray, a DUP MIA has warned.

Mervyn Storey, also an Independent Orangeman, called for "transparent even-handedness" from the new group which will conduct the review of parades legislation, the Parades Commission and its effectiveness.

"The Government has bungled its opportunity to win support for the review among unionists and the Orange fraternity by slapping their face with the inclusion of a leading republican activist who has operated historically to obstruct the Ardoyne parade," said the North Antrim MLA.

"What kind of message does this send out to my community and how on earth will it assist in developing tolerance for unionist culture? There's a strong feeling growing that this crude sop to republicans and Sinn Fein is likely to compromise the integrity of the decisions the body makes and thus it has damaged the confidence of the unionist community in the workings of the body before it begins."

Secretary of State Peter Hain had "crumbled to Sinn PSNI pressure to skew the neutrality and objectivity of the body", he claimed.

"It's tedious hearing the platitudes of 'Spike' Murray on how we need to talk to local groups opposed to Orange marches while republican activists like him have historically whipped up and then articulated opposition to parades," said Mr Storey.

"It is clear that he is in the body as a gatekeeper of republican opposition to Orange culture and Orange parades."

There was a grave need for unionist views to be understood after years of the Parades Commission complying with threats by republicans for civil unrest, he concluded.

And, he added, republicans also had a chance on the marching issue to prove they were truly changing too.
"Unionists are looking to Sinn Fein and its operatives to give positive and responsible civic leadership," said Mr Storey.

"'Spike' Murray now has an opportunity on the review body to give that leadership and it will soon be clear whether he has genuinely moved on from his past or is in the body to stifle tolerance and understanding." News Letter 24th April 2007

Click on the related links below

Orange Hall targeted in attempted arson

Attempted arson on Orange Hall

Attacks on Orange halls increase to 225

Sectarian Attack on Orange Hall