Police treat paint attack on Orange Hall in Co. Antrim as hate crime
Paint was thrown over the front of the building and graffiti daubed on walls opposite ahead of a Twelfth of July parade in the town.
The force has also said it is treating the controversial Moygashel bonfire in Co. Tyrone as a hate incident.
Police said they received a report of criminal damage caused to the Orange Hall in Rasharkin shortly after 1.20am on Saturday.
"We are treating this criminal damage as a sectarian-motivated hate crime," said Superintendent Sinead McIldowney.
"The Police Service condemns all sectarian hate crime and criminal damage caused to any property is absolutely unacceptable."
Earlier this week, the bonfire at Moygashel caused controversy after effigies of refugees in a boat were placed on top.
Before the bonfire was lit on Thursday night, an Irish flag was also placed on the structure.
A statement from the PSNI on Friday said they were investigating the matter as a hate incident, adding 'police are here to help those who are or who feel vulnerable, to keep people safe'. 'Sectarian and racist hatred'
Meanwhile, Sinn Féin MP Paul Maskey condemned a bonfire in the Highfield area of Belfast that had numerous Irish Tricolours placed on it.
There were also signs reading 'KAT' and 'Stop the Boats'.
"Such open and sickening displays of sectarian and racist hatred have absolutely no place in our society," said the West Belfast MP.
"Political unionism must speak out and demand the removal of these offensive materials.
"Real leadership is needed, although it has been sorely lacking in these communities for some time.
"This is clearly a hate crime, and I have reported it to the PSNI."
Party colleague Pat Sheehan has also criticised the PSNI over a bonfire in the Village area of Belfast despite concerns about asbestos on the site and its proximity to electrical substations that provide power to two hospitals.
The PSNI said it refused a request from Belfast City Council to remove the bonfire following a multi-agency meeting.
"The consensus of the meeting was that the risk of the bonfire proceeding as planned was lower and more manageable than the intervention of contractors and the proposed methodology of dismantling the bonfire," said the force.
Speaking before the bonfire was lit, Mr Sheehan said: "This would not be allowed to happen anywhere else; I certainly would not be letting my children anywhere near this hazard.
"There are questions for the PSNI on how they have come to a decision not to intervene. All steps should be taken to protect public health."
See More: Eleventh Night, Moygashel Bonfire, Rasharkin, Twelfth Of July
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Examiner
3 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Letters to the Editor: The 'lived experience expertise' of survivors is invaluable
As a survivor of Willow Park and four other boarding schools, I applaud the establishment of the commission of investigation into the handling of historical child sexual abuse in schools. My gratitude to Mark and David Ryan is in equal measure to my deep respect for what they have achieved. Over the past 30 years, numerous similar inquiries have been carried out. Academic, clinical, and legal expertise has been an important part of the development and progress of these inquiries. What has had less space is 'lived experience expertise' — the expertise of survivors, the ones who lived through what was done to them by others. In June 2025, researchers at Trinity College published a substantive report, Transforming Justice Responses to Non-recent Institutional Abuses, prepared by Anne-Marie McAlinden, Marie Keenan, and James Gallen. Their report assessed past inquiries — in Ireland, the UK, and beyond — with this in mind. Their research has shown clearly that the inclusion of lived experience expertise at all stages of such inquiries, as active agents, improves outcomes for everyone concerned. Survivors were excluded from setting the terms of reference of the commission of investigation, in spite of our requests to be participants in that process. Nothing about us, nothing without us. I urge the Irish Government, and everyone in our elected assemblies, to take on board the wisdom and expertise of the academics, legal experts, and clinicians. Survivors deserve nothing less. Corneilius Crowley, Address with the editor Happy campers As a campervan owner, I have often used the facility at Cobh, I find it great. My partner and I have travelled all over Europe in the last 10 years or so and have a lot of experience of how good the facilities are on the continent. Ireland is still lagging behind Europe in this area, county councils around Ireland are missing a great opportunity to raise revenue and encourage camper tourism. Campsites in Ireland are too expensive, the owners won't let you service your van (empty grey/ black waste, refill fresh water) for a small fee (€5/€10) unless you want to stay overnight. In lots of towns in Europe, they provide this facility free or for a €2/€5 charge. It's great to see that Cork County Council is thinking outside the box. Well done! We're looking forward to visiting new sites when they open. Eddie Tierney, Rathgar, Dublin Tourism no-brainer Campervan parks are badly needed. Youghal is a prime tourist destination, and campervans are the vehicle of choice for many tourists. Similar seaside towns on the continent have them, and they are great assets to these places. Campervanners are a community in their own right, they bring business to the town and are in nobody's way, provided they're given proper facilities. It's an absolute no-brainer, in my opinion. Utta Hogan, Youghal, Cork Government all at sea over cables It seems very deceitful of the Government to invite us to take part in a survey on maritime security to protect undersea cables, the property of private industries, from little or no threat, when, at the same time, it has failed to enact the long-promised and essential Marine Protected Areas Bill. Surely, it would be easier, more urgent, and more appropriate to establish areas of marine protection for the health and biodiversity of our waters, within our own territory, than to spend our money trying to protect cables that run thousands of miles outside of our territory and area of responsibility. This Government seems to have the will and the money for the protection of undersea cables, but not the will or the money to protect the very life of the seas around our island home. Marian Naughton Naas, Co Kildare Aiding corruption Between €500m and €1bn has been spent by Ireland on development aid to Mozambique over the past 30 years — despite it being one of the most corrupt governments in Africa. Yet Irish media expends far more energy scrutinising the Dáil bicycle shed than this long-running misuse of taxpayer funds. Mozambique became a priority for Irish Aid in 1996. Some of the funding may have achieved limited success in niche areas, but it has also propped up a rapacious elite. Frelimo, the ruling party, has clung to power for nearly 50 years, overseeing increasingly fraudulent elections. In the most recent vote, more than 50 protesters were reportedly shot by police. Irish Aid to Mozambique was over €40m annually until 2016, when a $2bn corruption scandal involving the Frelimo government — exposed largely by the US — came to light. Since then, the aid has been halved, but €20m a year still flows in. I spent 14 years working in education in Mozambique and met many of the Irish embassy staff. Most were aware of the rampant corruption, but felt bound by the system: 'The money has been allocated — we have to spend it.' They are career diplomats, not policymakers, and no doubt their private reports paint a clearer picture. While Irish Aid's brochures highlight contributions to health, education, and governance, the reality is less reassuring. Transparency International reports increasing corruption. Mozambique's ranking on the UN Human Development Index is falling. Meanwhile, the ruling elite grows richer and ever more detached from the needs of ordinary citizens. I'm not against development aid — far from it. But we owe it to taxpayers and to the poor themselves to be more discerning. Why is the Irish media silent on this long-running farce? It's time we stop turning a blind eye and recognise our complicity in enabling corrupt regimes. Donal Conlon, Paris, France Our waters matter It's disappointing to read that our Government has failed to legislate to exclude large trawlers from Irish coastal waters. We live on a beautiful island, surrounded by rich, diverse, and abundant seas; at a minimum you would expect our politicians to do all in their power to protect what we have — not just for those of us alive now, but for future generations. I don't really get a sense that our island and its environment matter a whole lot to TDs. We are constantly being told how rich a country we are, we paint the world green every St Patrick's Day, there's no end to the 'hard sell' of our little nation. So why not put our money where our mouth is, and endeavour to make our land, air, sea, and water 'best in class', a place that will nurture all of us now and for generations to come. Anne Quinlan, Clondalkin, Dublin 22 Explaining sea snot With the good weather on us, a lot of concern is being raised by the smothering of our coastal areas with what is called sea lettuce or sea snot. This is great, because it calls for an explanation. Fifty years ago, the vast majority of our river tributaries and streams were fully open to the sunlight and hosted a vibrant growth of green ranunculus crowsfoot weed, on which the whole riparian ecosystem was based, be it fish or bird. This weed would have sequestered any passing molecule or nitrogen or phosphorus, and all the fine silts and muds. These streams, of which nationally we have over 30,000km, are now just shaded out, eutrophied drains. Nicholas Grubb, Dromana, Cappoquin Nitrates indulgence Drought conditions have been declared in 12 counties and 31 catchment areas, yet our Government — so happy to give lip service to environmental protection — is in negotiations with the EU to extend the nitrates derogation for dairy farms. Should that wrong-headed objective be achieved, Ireland would be the only EU country where that indulgence endures. If it is achieved, it would inevitably exacerbate the negative impact modern farming has on water quality — no matter what the agri-food lobby argues. Sometimes the self-destructive insanity plays out in plain view. Jack Power, Inniscarra, Cork Burden on owners John Tierney's idea of dog-walking loops on farms is well-meaning, but risks placing a burden on farmers rather than where it belongs — on irresponsible dog owners. Livestock-worrying, fouling, and trespass aren't caused by farmers, but by a minority of dog owners who refuse to control their animals. Farmers shouldn't have to adapt their land to fix this. Responsible dog ownership, not more obligations for farmers, is the real solution. Until that's addressed, conflict will continue, through no fault of those who work the land. Richard Vickery, Midleton, Cork
Irish Examiner
3 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
European trade ministers gather in Brussels to plan response to Trump's latest tariff warning
European trade ministers will gather in Brussels on Monday to try to formulate a response to Donald Trump's imposition of a 30% tariff on the EU, which threatens to spark a trade war. Negotiations on tariffs were upended on Saturday when US president Donald Trump warned that if a deal is not struck by the August 1 deadline, the rate on goods coming from the EU would be 30%. Across Europe, there is some difference about how to respond to Mr Trump's weekend letter, with French president Emmanuel Macron urging the EU to 'defend European interests resolutely', be ready for a trade war, and to stand up to the US president. Leaders in Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, and Germany called for calm. Irish leaders have appealed for calm with three weeks to go until the latest deadline. On Sunday, EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said she would seek a negotiated settlement. "We have always been very clear that we prefer a negotiated solution. This remains the case and we will use the time that we have now until August 1,' said Ms von der Leyen. Ms von der Leyen added that a suite of retaliatory EU measures due to kick in on Monday would be delayed pending the outcome of talks with the US. Those measures would hit US goods to the tune of €21bn. At the National Day of Commemoration in Dublin, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said Mr Trump's letter had been "worrying" and that a trade war would have damaging effects. "Clearly, 30% is not sustainable or tenable," he said. However, he said it is important that Europe not "overreact to every statement" and that Europe has countermeasures available should it choose to use them. He said that scenario would not be bad for consumers and businesses. It would damage everybody, and the world would suffer because of the enormous trading relationship between the EU and US. So, it would be a very significant deterioration. Speaking at the same event, Tánaiste and minister for trade Simon Harris said that the letter sent by Mr Trump was "unhelpful, because it's escalatory, but I think it also doesn't change anything in the here and now". He said the deadline was always August 1 and "remains the first of August and looks to me like a negotiating tactic by Donald Trump". "We prefer to do our negotiations around the table. He tends to do his negotiations on Truth Social and he can do it however he wishes, [but] from a European perspective and an Irish perspective, we're continuing to intensively engage. "I was in contact overnight with the EU trade commissioner Maroš Šefčovič speaking to him on a very regular basis," Mr Harris said. Mr Harris said that the Government had not yet released models on the impact of a 30% tariff but that the 10% scenario, which he said was now "baked in", saw a 25,000 fewer jobs created than the 100,000 added in a no-tariff scenario and the rate of economic growth slowing.
Irish Times
4 hours ago
- Irish Times
Courts Service launches first Irish language strategy
The first Irish language strategy for the Courts Service in Ireland has been published. The service said the aim of the strategy is to evolve it into a 'genuinely bilingual organisation'. Irish language strategy manager Dónal Ó Gallachóir said: 'The goal is that the public will experience an active bilingual offering without delay or difficulty. 'We also aim that staff use of the first national language is actively welcomed and encouraged.' The strategy contains 44 actions across six priorities and provides a vision for the development of the Irish language across the next three years in the organisation. It aims to develop a centralised Irish language office, improve quality and availability of an Irish language service and bring about parity between English and Irish in all service provision in the Courts Service. The service said it would work to actively recruit those with Irish language skills, alongside the development of a comprehensive tailored Irish language training programme. It also said it would develop a framework for providing Irish language service to the public online, in person and on the phone. – PA
