Orange Halls attacked over the Province
Since the signing of the Belfast Agreement nothing has changed in fact things are getting progressively worse by the day and weeks that pass. This last two months alone many Orange Halls have been attacked across the province as republicans go on their nightly rampages as they attack the Orange halls many of which are use daily by the local Protestant community, both young and old. Who find these are the only places they can socialise These attacks are therefore a subtle form of ethnic cleansing at its worse. As republicans try to impose their will against the Protestant population as they endeavor to rid our culture and heritage from the shores of Northern Ireland. Something which they shall never ever achieve.
There where Orange Halls attacked in County Tyrone, where the exodus of Protestants this past thirty years is due to intimidation. Intimidation which still goes on despite the signing of the Belfast Agreement. No wonder the West of the Bann is mostly green and republican.
Three men were arrested following two attacks on Orange Halls in Co Tyrone. A fire was first discovered at Orange Order premises on the Edentilone Road near Aughnacloy shortly before 10am. Within minutes, it was discovered that another Orange Hall had been broken into and ransacked at Lisginny Road, Aughnacloy. Police confirmed that three men were later arrested in the Coalisland Road area of Dungannon.
Three men from Tyrone have appeared at the magistrates court in Enniskillen jointly charged in relation to a fire at Edontilone Orange Hall and damage to Lisginny Orange Hall, both near Aughnacloy, at the weekend.
Shane Conlon, 20, a welder from Mountcairn Court, Coalisland -
Kevin Michael O'Neill, 21, unemployed, from Lurgylea Road, Galbalry, Dungannon -
and Patrick McGrath, 21, an engineer from Lisnastrain Road, Coalisland -
Were jointly charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm; trespass with intent to unlawfully damage Lisginny Orange Hall; destroying by fire the contents of Edentilone Orange Hall, with intent to destroy the property and with intent to do unlawful damage to Edentilone Orange Hall building. The court heard that the men denied the charges when arrested. A police officer told the court he believed he could connect all three to the charges. The men were remanded in custody to appear at East Tyrone Magistrates Court on October 30th 2002.
A Protestant Orange Hall in a County Londonderry seaside town was also attacked by republicans hell bent on driving the innocent Protestant community out from where they have lived for centuries. A police spokesman said paint was splattered on the building at Portstewart and sectarian slogans daubed on the window shutters. It is the third attack on an Orange Hall this weekend.
A number of Orange Halls where attacked in Northern Ireland over the Twelfth holidays, including one at Upper Dunmurry Lane, near Belfast, which has been attacked on previous occasions. Slogans where daubed on the walls and windows broken.
The Orangemen who use the hall have called for these attacks to stop. As they point out, Dunmurry Hall is not a threat to anyone, but since the overspill population of West Belfast has moved into the area, the Hall has been subjected to constant attacks. In Portadown the Seagoe Orange Hall on the fringes of the eastern side of the town had a number of windows broken. There where also reports of windows being broken in an Orange Hall in Newcastle.
Attacks on three Orange Halls have been described as blatantly sectarian. Police are investigating attacks on halls in Dundrum, Newcastle and Ballywillwill, near Castlewellan. It is the 13th time Orange Halls have been attacked in the past four years. The Casltewellan hall had just been officially rededicated a week earlier after it was virtually destroyed in a sectarian arson attack Orange Memobilla was taken from the hall during the incident. In Dundrum, more than a £1,000 worth of damage was caused when windows were smashed at the hall. Ulster Unionist councillor Worshipful Bro. Gerry Douglas said the attacks were 'blatantly sectarian' and designed to heighten tensions in the area.
"There attacks were carried out by sectarian thugs who have absolutely no tolerance for the Orange Order or Protestant culture", said Bro. Douglas a former County Grand Master.
The Protestants of Northern Ireland have heard much of 'Parity of Esteem' and the rights of others but the Protestants of Northern Ireland also have rights and we also have our own culture, tradition and unique identity. We shall not be marginalised nor shall we be intimidated from displaying and supporting the Protestant religion a tradition and heritage we display by wearing Orange Collarettes and parading in public view.
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Republicans Attack on Newry Orange Hall 'despicable'
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