Latest news with #SineadMcIldowney
Irish Post
2 days ago
- Politics
- Irish Post
Police treat paint attack on Orange Hall in Co. Antrim as hate crime
THE PSNI has said it is treating a paint attack on an Orange Hall in Rasharkin, Co. Antrim as a 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
ITV News
3 days ago
- ITV News
Police say they're treating attack on Orange Hall in Co Antrim as sectarian hate crime
Police have said they are treating an attack on an Orange Hall in Co Antrim as a sectarian hate after 1:20am on Saturday, it was reported that paint had been thrown over the front of the building in the Main Street of Rasharkin and graffiti daubed on walls attack happened just hours before a Twelfth of July parade was due to take place in the town. PSNI Superintendent Sinead McIldowney said: 'We are treating this criminal damage as a sectarian-motivated hate crime.'The police service condemns all sectarian hate crime and criminal damage caused to any property is absolutely unacceptable.'We will thoroughly investigate this matter and would appeal to anyone with information to contact us on 101, quoting reference 177 of 12/07/25.'Our officers will continue to proactively patrol the area and engage with the local community around any concerns they may have.' TUV leader Jim Allister condemned the said: 'The overnight sectarian attack on Rasharkin Orange Hall and the painting of terrorist slogans in the village, before it today hosts Twelfth celebrations, typifies the unbridled hatred of Orange and unionist culture that is designed to drive out its remaining Protestant residents.'The local unionist community will nonetheless not be deterred by this latest manifestation of sectarian hatred.'
Belfast Telegraph
3 days ago
- Politics
- Belfast Telegraph
Anger as Orange hall attacked in ‘sectarian hate crime' hours before village hosts Twelfth parade
Paint was thrown and graffiti daubed on nearby walls at the hall in the village of Rasharkin. Police are treating the incident as a sectarian hate crime. The village is hosting the north Antrim Twelfth parade today. In total, 43 lodges and 30 bands and Lambeg drums drawn from five local districts will be on parade. Local MP Jim Allister said those parading would not be deterred by the attack. He said there should have been a greater police presence in the village. The PSNI received a report of criminal damage caused to the hall in the Main Street area of Rasharkin shortly after 1.20am this morning. Paint had been thrown over the front of the building and graffiti daubed on walls opposite. District Commander for Causeway Coast and Glens, Superintendent Sinead McIldowney said: 'We are treating this criminal damage as a sectarian-motivated hate crime. Watch: Controversial Village bonfire in Belfast goes ahead after council order for removal 'The Police Service condemns all sectarian hate crime and criminal damage caused to any property is absolutely unacceptable. 'We will thoroughly investigate this matter and would appeal to anyone with information to contact us on 101, quoting reference 177 of 12/07/25. 'Our officers will continue to proactively patrol the area and engage with the local community around any concerns they may have.' Mr Allister, the TUV MP for North Antrim, slammed those behind the attack. 'The overnight sectarian attack on Rasharkin Orange Hall and the painting of terrorist slogans in the village, before it today hosts Twelfth celebrations, typifies the unbridled hatred of Orange and unionist culture that is designed to drive out its remaining Protestant residents,' he said. 'The local unionist community will nonetheless not be deterred by this latest manifestation of sectarian hatred. 'The precedent of such attacks and therefore the predictability of such on the Eleventh Night ought to have led to a police presence in the village which clearly was absent. 'I look forward to seeing the parade later today in Rasharkin and stand with my constituents who have for so long borne such republican hatred.'
BBC News
3 days ago
- BBC News
Orange Hall paint attack in Rasharkin being treated as hate crime
Paint has been thrown over the front of an Orange Hall in County Antrim in an incident that is being treated as a sectarian-motivated hate said graffiti was also "daubed on walls opposite" during the attack on Main Street in Rasharkin, which was reported shortly after 01:20 BST on Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) Supt Sinead McIldowney said the police condemns "all sectarian hate crime" and that criminal damage "caused to any property is absolutely unacceptable".She said the PSNI would "thoroughly investigate this matter" and appealed for information about the incident. DUP councillor Mervyn Storey described it as "a sickening sectarian hate crime" and said it is "to be condemned in the strongest possible terms".
BreakingNews.ie
3 days ago
- BreakingNews.ie
Orange Hall attack being treated as hate crime by police
Police have said they are treating an attack on an Orange Hall in Co Antrim as a sectarian hate crime. Shortly after 1:20am on Saturday, it was reported that paint had been thrown over the front of the building in the Main Street of Rasharkin and graffiti daubed on walls opposite. Advertisement The attack happened just hours before a Twelfth of July parade was due to take place in the town. We're appealing for information after damage was caused to an Orange Hall in Rasharkin overnight. Supt McIldowney: 'The Police Service condemns all sectarian hate crime and criminal damage caused to any property is absolutely unacceptable.' Full details: — Police Causeway Coast and Glens (@PSNICCGDistrict) July 12, 2025 PSNI Superintendent Sinead McIldowney said: 'We are treating this criminal damage as a sectarian-motivated hate crime. 'The police service condemns all sectarian hate crime and criminal damage caused to any property is absolutely unacceptable. 'We will thoroughly investigate this matter and would appeal to anyone with information to contact us on 101, quoting reference 177 of 12/07/25. Advertisement 'Our officers will continue to proactively patrol the area and engage with the local community around any concerns they may have.'
