Orange Volunteers' threat condemned
A LEADING Orangeman has hit out at an extreme loyalist paramilitary group which has threatened attacks on Catholic property.
In a statement to the News Letter, the Orange Volunteers said they will be "monitoring attacks on Orange halls and other buildings".
A male caller, who gave a codeword, claiming to represent the North and South East Antrim Orange Volunteers, said: "Attacks (on Catholic property) will increase if they (attacks) are not stopped on Protestant buildings."
No admission of responsibility was made for a string of attacks on Wednesday night which saw five Catholic churches paint-bombed and a car burnt out on GAA grounds in the north Antrim area.
Last night Orange Order Grand Secretary Drew Nelson said the Orange Volunteers "besmirch the name of Orangeism".
Mr Nelson said his organisation does not condone the actions or statements of the Orange Volunteers.
"We do not know who they are and have never had any contact with them," he said.
"We feel that by using the word 'Orange' in the name of their organisation they are undermining the good name of the Orange Order which they know full well is opposed to what they are doing.
"We want to state clearly that we are totally opposed to any threat or actual attack, to property belonging to any representative group or individual.
"Clearly there are a small number of people in both communities who wish to heighten tensions in the run-up to the parading season.
"I call on all law-abiding citizens in both communities to let the police deal with attacks on property and to give any information they have about these attacks or the people behind them to the police."
The Orange Volunteers first emerged during the 1998 Drumcree conflict when Portadown Orange Order and their supporters were prevented from returning to the town centre down the Garvaghy Road.
It is believed they are made up of former UVF members who disapprove of the peace process.
They have been behind previous attacks on Catholic property in the Province, while pipe bomb attacks have also been attributed to them.
Last night, a police spokesman said: "In recent days we have had a series of attacks on Orange halls and also on buildings which are also culturally important to the Catholic community.
"This is a time for everyone to show restraint and civic responsibility, to support their neighbours and to demonstrate to those few who would seek to disrupt the lives of the many that they will not succeed.
"Those who own premises which they think might be vulnerable need to be talking to the police and to take measures to protect their property.
"Anyone who has information about who is behind any attack should come to us. We need evidence which can bring those responsible to court and secure a conviction.
"Police can be contacted on 0845 600 800 or anonymous information can be passed to the Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111."
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Weather for Belfast
Saturday 11 February 2012
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