TUV condemns ‘sinister’ IRA graffiti outside Orange Hall

The TUV has condemned pro-IRA graffiti which appeared overnight on a footpath outside Rasharkin Orange Hall.

The incident took place ahead of Orange Victims’ Day, where the Orange Order commemorates members who were killed during the Troubles - with most of them having served with the security forces.

A police spokesperson said on Friday that they are treating it as a sectarian hate crime.

TUV councillor Jonathan McAuley said it was “sinister vandalism”.

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“It is important to remember that there are many victims of IRA violence still in our community and it is particularly significant that the graffiti appeared just days before we as Orangemen and women mark Orange Victims’ Day,” he said.

“This Sunday, Orange brethren will attend services and events across Northern Ireland to remember the 339 members of the Institution who were murdered during the terrorist campaign, the vast majority by the IRA.“

Held since 2018, September 1 was chosen as Orange Victim’s Day after the 1975 IRA murders of four Orangemen at Tullyvallen Orange Hall, with a fifth later dying of his injuries.

“There’s nothing glorious or laughable about that,” Cllr McAuley said.

Jim Allister, TUV leader and North Antrim MP, also called it “a very sinister development clearly designed to intimidate and instil fear in the minority Unionist community of Rasharkin”.

A police spokesperson said they were alerted to the incident on Friday morning and were treating it as a sectarian hate crime.

Anyone with relevant information is asked to call 101, quoting reference 360 of August 30.