Condemnations Follow GAA Club Attacks

The Orange Order has condemned weekend arson attacks on Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) clubrooms.

A statement from the top loyal order today said: "We condemn all attacks on halls in our community without reservation, and we appeal for no retaliation."

Appealing for no 'tit-for-tat' attacks the statement continued: "Retaliation is always a trap and the people who are burning our Orange Halls will be the ones who will be most pleased if misguided people from the Protestant community retaliate."

The hard-hitting comments came on foot of the second of two fires, this time at GAA premises in Cookstown, which is being treated as suspicious by police.

The fire at the building on Convent Road in the town was the second suspected attack over the weekend on GAA premises in the county.

Northern Ireland Sports Minister Gregory Campbell also condemned the incidents "unequivocally and without reservation".

"If the morons who seem to have a resentment and bitterness in them against either Orange halls or GAA halls see the consequence of their attacks mean there will be bigger and better premises built instead, maybe that will have an impact," he said.

"There will be a response by the community and those who attack the hall for whatever mischievous reason will see that it has backfired - maybe that will have an impact because there is no point in attacks that rebound on each community as a result of the previous one."

Sinn Féin MLA Barry McElduff said it was "very upsetting to see these GAA clubs vandalised and burned in this way".

However, he welcomed the Orange Order's intervention: "It's helpful that the Orange Order has spoken in such clear terms about attacks on GAA halls."

Mr McElduff also said he condemned attacks on Orange halls, adding: "I would call on anyone engaged in such activities to desist."

On Saturday morning a blaze was discovered at St Malachy's GAA club in Edendork. Police are also treating that fire as suspicious.

The blaze at St Malachy's destroyed the roof, and the building was later declared unsafe.

Meanwhile, patient files have been damaged in a fire at a Co Down doctor's surgery.

The fire broke out on Sunday evening at the premises on Pound Lane in Downpatrick. Forensic teams are examining the scene.

As many as 6,000 files may have been badly burned, smoke or water damaged.

(BMcC)