Don't use Easter Rising to excuse attacks: Order

The Orange Order has condemned a third attack on one of its halls in as many days '“ and appealed for no retaliation.
By The Newsroom
Published 22nd Feb 2016, 09:25 BST
Updated 22nd Feb 2016, 09:30 BST
Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 20th February 2016 General view of Rasharkin Orange Hall in County Antrim which was attacked with graffiti in an overnight attack. Picture by Press Eye.Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 20th February 2016 General view of Rasharkin Orange Hall in County Antrim which was attacked with graffiti in an overnight attack. Picture by Press Eye.
Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 20th February 2016 General view of Rasharkin Orange Hall in County Antrim which was attacked with graffiti in an overnight attack. Picture by Press Eye.

On Friday night, republican graffiti in relation to the 1916 Easter Rebellion was daubed on the exterior of Rasharkin Orange hall in north Antrim.

Earlier last week, windows and door panels were smashed at Strawletterdallon Orange hall, near Newtownstewart, Tyrone, in two separate attacks. The Loyal Order denounced these two incidents as evidence of a “hate campaign” against the local Protestant community.

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The PSNI has said they are treating all three attacks as “hate crimes”.

Appealing for no retaliation, Grand Secretary of the Orange Order, Drew Nelson, said: “We note the graffiti in Rasharkin refers to the 1916 rebellion. The Institution recognises that this is a challenging year and we sincerely hope people will not use the centenary of the Easter Rising in a few weeks as an excuse and smokescreen to attack the symbolic buildings of their Protestant neighbours.”

DUP MLA Mervyn Storey said those behind the Rasharkin vandalism are “a very small unrepresentative group” who have “nothing positive to offer”, while Sinn Fein MLA Daithí McKay said it was “totally wrong and I condemn it utterly”.