Hate crime: Department of Justice called to act after ‘upsurge’ in sectarian attacks on Orange Halls

UUP Slieve Croob Councillor Alan Lewis was speaking after an attack on Maghera Orange Hall. A PSNI spokeswoman said police are aware of criminal damage in the Carrigs Road area of Maghera and are making enquiries.

The News Letter has seen a photograph of obscene and sectarian graffiti daubed on the hall, which we are not publishing.

Councillor Lewis said: “On Thursday evening members arrived to discover the hall had been targeted, paint and graffiti had been dubbed on the hall causing significant damage to the property.

“This is the latest in an upsurge of attacks in South Down directly targeting the Unionist / Orange community. There are those within our community intent on raising tension and damaging community relations, it is not acceptable, these halls have sat untouched for many years, we are told we are living in a time of peace yet some see fit to continue age old conflict by orchestrating a concentrated effort to interfere, damage and vandalise orange property”.

“The message for anyone who needs to hear it would be that orange halls are being improved, more  frequently used, the loyal orders and bands are going from strength to strength benefiting from an increased membership of new young enthusiastic members, we won’t be put off, we won’t be Silenced, those who are continuing these attacks need to come clean, explain their agenda, put up or shut up”.Mr Lewis said he has asked that the police further engage with the Orange community to ensure that crime prevention officers are made available to give advice to members who wish to protect their hall. He added that the department of Justice “must realise that there is a concentrated effort to damage property and raise tension” and that funds must be made available for the protection of orange property.

Mr Lewis also condemned an attack on the home of a prominent south Down Orangeman.

The businessman, who does not want to be named, lives just outside the South Down town of Castlewellan.

Mr Lewis said: “Last week my constituent arrived home to discover the paint and threatening message dubbed across the back of his shed, he had just returned from an evening of running his business when he was confronted with the hate-filed message which can be seen from the road.

“There has been a sizeable increase of sectarian incidents within the South Down area, I am calling for leadership, somebody, somewhere knows who is responsible, it’s time they come forward, articulate what their problem is? Explain why they can’t live in harmony with their Unionist neighbours”

“I will be requesting an urgent meeting with police to discuss the notable rise in hate crime attacks within the area.”

Inspector Darren Hardy said: “We are aware of concerns raised by local representatives and will continue to work alongside the community, partner agencies and local representatives to find collaborative and proactive solutions to address the problem.

“Officers would ask anyone with any information to contact them by calling 101, quoting reference number 138 of 28/07/22. You can also submit a report online using the non-emergency reporting form via http://www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/ or you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at http://crimestoppers-uk.org/.”