Arson attempt on Orange hall condemned

An attempt to burn down an Orange Hall in north Belfast was condemned today by the area’s MP as naked sectarian violence.

Tyres were stacked against the outside of the hall on the Whitewell Road and set alight.

The PSNI said the hall escaped with minor damage to the exterior and smoke damage to the inside. A spokeswoman appealed for anyone who noticed anything suspicious around 5am to contact them.

Democratic Unionist Party MP Nigel Dodds said it was clearly a well-prepared and organised effort to destroy the hall.

“This is totally unacceptable and must be condemned in the strongest possible terms. This Orange Hall has sustained numerous attacks and the members of the local lodge and family members have been subjected to intimidation and threats,” he said.

Mr Dodds said the attacks and threats must be brought to an end once and for all.

“I call upon everyone with influence in the local nationalist community to make it clear that the people involved should be brought to justice, that this type of naked sectarian violence must be stopped and that the Orange Hall and its members should be left alone,” he added.