Glenavy Orange Hall is targeted again by arsonists

Mr Tinsley, a former District Secretary of the Glenavy District was speaking after the hall suffered its third attack this year. This time it was targeted by arsonists in the early hours of Wednesday morning. Two wheelie bins were pushed against the front gates of Glenavy Protestant Hall on the village’s Main Street and set on fire, causing scorch damage. Roads Service had to visit the site to clean the area on Wednesday as the bins had melted into the pavement causing damage to the footpath. Mr Tinsley appealed for no retaliation to the incident - the second in a matter of weeks - saying local people did not want anything to do with such incidents. The last attack - when the building was splattered with paint - came just after the Glenavy District hosted the Twelfth demonstration in Crumlin last month. Mr Tinsley said: “Luckily there was no real damage to the hall because the bins were placed outside, against the gates, but this is doing damage to the comunity. We feel now with three attacks, no matter how minor, there is a sinister message going out. “I would appeal for anyone with any information to go to the police or if anyone can identify the individuals, to come forward. We’ve spoken to people in the community and 99% of people are not happy about this and would want to see those responsible brought to justice.” Mr Tinsley added: “I would appeal for no retaliation to this. We don’t want any trouble. We feel a bit disheartened by it. We took the arch down early to diffuse the feelings of anyone who might feel annoyed about it, but still these attacks continue.” An Orange Order spokesman also condemned those responsible. He said: “This latest deliberate attack appears to be part of an ongoing campaign - which is becoming more serious and sinister in its nature – against the Orange culture and heritage in south Antrim. “As an Institution, we would urge the police to devote more resources towards the prevention and detection of such attacks on the Protestant community in Glenavy.” The spokesman called on members of the public with any information to contact police as a matter of urgency. stacey.heaney@ulsterstar.co.uk