Local Ballymoney DUP councillor John Finlay has condemned the weekend attack on Granagh Independent Orange Hall. The hall was attacked in the early hours of Saturday morning using a digger. The hall itself escaped major damage but the digger broke through the wall protecting the hall.
John has described the attack as being the actions of "sick individuals" who have nothing to offer the area or Northern Ireland.
This latest attack follows a summer of tension with attacks happening almost daily on other Protestant halls as well as homes in the Rasharkin area.
This latest attack follows a summer of tension with attacks happening almost daily on other Protestant halls as well as homes in the Rasharkin area.
John Finlay said:
"This attack conducted in the early hours of Saturday morning was carried out by sick individuals with the a motive to create tension and stir sectarian tensions in existence in the area. The use of a large mechanical device demonstrates their desire to knock the hall down. This sends out a very negative message to Protestants' in the area.
Due to the changing demographics in the area such attacks have been on the rise. People out to do this refuse to co-exist peacefully, which the majority of people want to do.
I condemn this attack as all others and call for local help in finding the individuals who did this. I want to see those responsible brought to justice for their crime.
I also call upon the local Republican community to offer leadership and to see that they stamp out sectarianism existing within their community.
It is ironic that this event has happened only a few days after Sinn Fein published their Programme for Cohesion, Sharing and Integration: Rights and Respect." the local DUP councillor said.
Due to the changing demographics in the area such attacks have been on the rise. People out to do this refuse to co-exist peacefully, which the majority of people want to do.
I condemn this attack as all others and call for local help in finding the individuals who did this. I want to see those responsible brought to justice for their crime.
I also call upon the local Republican community to offer leadership and to see that they stamp out sectarianism existing within their community.
It is ironic that this event has happened only a few days after Sinn Fein published their Programme for Cohesion, Sharing and Integration: Rights and Respect." the local DUP councillor said.
