Polling station moved from Orange Hall

No Orange Order halls will be used when voters in West Tyrone cast their votes in the next Stormont Assembly elections, it was claimed today.

Republicans have also urged polling authorities to scrap the Protestant buildings from their list across all 18 constituencies.

Even though the move has infuriated loyalists, Sinn Fein West Tyrone MLA Barry McElduff said Chief Electoral Officer Denis Stanley confirmed the move after months of lobbying.

He said: “This was an equality issue we fought hard for.

“The Orange Order will consider this a blasphemy, but Catholics feel uncomfortable and intimidated having to go into these places.”

Mr McElduff demanded changes after some voters in the Clanabogan area of West Tyrone complained at having to go to Blacksessiagh Orange Hall.

Relocating in future to a nearby Protestant church hall would even be more acceptable, he argued.

Buoyed by his victory, the Sinn Fein Assemblyman has called for a ban throughout Northern Ireland.

“I want an assurance that Catholics and nationalists will not feel alienated or feel they are running the gauntlet of loyalist paraphernalia,” he said.

“A neutral environment should apply everywhere, whether it’s West Tyrone or North Antrim.”