New attack on Rasharkin Orange Hall is condemned

Phrases like 'RIRA' were done in black spray paint on the building some time over night between March 16 and St Patrick's Day.

"Local people will be out watching the parades and it is unfortunate that this incident has taken place," Rasharkin-based Sinn Fein MLA Daithi McKay said on St Patrick's Day.

He added: "Nobody wants these actions to take place and in no way do they reflect on the people of the village.

"I want again to call on these people who are carrying out these graffiti attacks on the hall to stop," he said.

Ballymoney DUP councillor John Finlay - a prominent member of the Loyal Orders in north Antrim - has condemned the latest attack on Rasharkin Orange Hall and called for immediate action and resolution in an effort to stop future attacks.

"This latest attack on Rasharkin Orange Hall is another blatant act of sectarianism and intimidation of Protestants in the area. I want to see an immediate resolution to the problems being experienced in Rasharkin as these attacks cannot and must not be allowed to continue, especially as we enter the summer months.

"Protestants' in the area just want to be left alone and for attacks to stop. They want a peaceful summer without fear of intimidation.

"I call upon the Sinn Fein member for North Antrim to work to see that further attacks are prevented. Leadership must be offered on his behalf to the youth in the community to stop these mindless and childish acts of sectarianism.

"I want to see us move beyond all this and for mutual respect to be upheld. Orangemen have a right to be there. I believe that the majority of Catholics do not want any trouble and that they do respect our Orange culture.

"Unfortunately my culture is being jumped upon by a small section of society just out to cause trouble. They are criminals, not martyrs," said the DUP councillor.

DUP North Antrim MLA Ian Paisley Jnr also condemned the attack.

On Tuesday night/Wednesday morning the Orange Hall was attacked with dissident republican graffiti, he said.

Mr Paisley also condemned the erection of an Irish Tricolour in Ballymoney. Police said it was at the Joey Dunlop Leisure Centre.

Commenting on the Rasharkin incident, Mr Paisley said: "This is a case of cultural apartheid where there is no toleration of Protestants or Protestant culture and I wholly condemn it. This property has been attacked dozens of times in recent years. Protestants living in Rasharkin are being systematically intimidated through attacks on Protestant property and homes. This is outrageous and totally unacceptable.

"The actions of these dissident republicans will achieve nothing other than tarnish the name of that community. I call on the entire community to work with the police in ensuring that this sectarian behaviour ends.

"We believe in a shared future where we share space. That is the view of people throughout the community. They just want to see Northern Ireland moving forward for future generations."

Mr Paisley's colleague Mervyn Storey visited the Rasharkin Orange Hall on St Patrick's Day and spoke with the local Orangemen.

Traditional Unionist Voice leader Jim Allister said: "Another appalling sectarian attack on an Orange Hall in North Antrim and yet another hand-washing exercise by the local Sinn Fein MLA.

"The sustained manner in which Sinn Fein has stirred sectarian opposition to Orangemen and parades in the Rasharkin area cannot be divorced from the serial attacks on Orange property.

"The failure of the Sinn Fein controlled community to give up anyone for these attacks is another telling feature of this long-running saga of republican attacks on all things expressing Britishness in this part of North Antrim. The timing of the attack to chime with republican orientated celebrations of St Patrick's Day is also no coincidence."

The PSNI can be contacted on 08456008000.