Two Orange Halls Attacked

Two Orange Halls have been attacked over the weekend.

A number of paint bombs were thrown at Rosedernott Orange hall, outside Cloughmills, during the early hours of Sunday, 23 July.

A Union flag was also removed, and a flag pole damaged, from inside the grounds of Roden Orange hall in Kilkeel.

A Grand Lodge spokesman said: "These latest attacks, though separate, are yet further examples of the intolerant sectarianism displayed by a minority who continue to manifest their hatred towards the Orange Institution, by attacking our properties on a regular basis.

"Although the nature of the incidents is clearly different – the criminal intent is very much the same by the bigoted and narrow-minded individuals responsible. They have nothing to offer society, only division, and their actions must be universally condemned."

North Antrim Sinn Féin MLA Philip McGuigan said: "Sectarianism is wrong no matter where its source and sectarian attacks like this paint bomb attack on Cloughmills Orange hall need to be condemned by us all.

"Those responsible represent nobody and have nothing positive to offer the local North Antrim community.

"Such attacks have no place in our society and need to stop. I would appeal to anyone with information on this attack to report it to the PSNI."

(CD/LM)