A string of sectarian attacks that saw five Catholic churches paint-bombed, a car burnt out on GAA grounds and damage caused to an Orange Hall were condemned today.
The overnight attacks on the churches and GAA facility took place in the North Antrim area, while in a separate incident an arson attack was launched on Greencastle Orange Hall, north Belfast.
Politicians condemned the string of attacks and appealed for efforts to reduce tensions.
Police are investigating overnight attacks on Catholic churches on Crebilly Road and the Larne Road in Ballymena, plus the Portglenone Road in Aghoghill, Ballymena Road in Cullybackey and Ballymena Road in Portglenone.
The gates of a GAA club in Ahoghill were forced open and a car driven into the grounds on the Crosskeys Road was burnt out.
Presbyterian congregations in Ballymena condemned the overnight attacks on Catholic Churches in the area.
“When any vandalism to church property of any denomination takes place, it is very unsettling and distressing for the members of the congregation and embarrassing to the local community,” said Rev Joseph Andrews.
He said that Presbyterian clergy in the area had contacted their Catholic counterparts to offer support.
“Everyone has a duty to worship God and everyone’s culture should be free from attack,” he said.
He said vandalism on all Catholic and Protestant property must stop.
North Antrim Sinn Féin MLA Daithi McKay said a GAA mural in the village of Dunloy was also attacked.
“This was clearly a series of orchestrated attacks on Catholic Church and GAA property in the North Antrim area last night which needs to be condemned outright,” he said.
“Unfortunately, such incidents have occurred before in the lead-up to the Twelfth and there is an onus on everybody in this area, especially elected representatives, to use their influence to ensure that tensions do not rise further and that attacks on either side of the community are brought to an end.
“I would urge anyone with any information on these attacks to bring it forward to the authorities and ensure that those behind the attacks are prosecuted.”
The SDLP’s Declan O’Loan said he was saddened by the vandalism. He said it was a return to the kind of sectarian attack that had not been seen for some time in the North Antrim area.
“Things have been very settled and very calm and certainly that has changed recently,” he said.
Mr O’Loan said negative forces were filling a vacuum that he claimed was being created as a result of poor leadership from some unionist politicians.
Chief Inspector Ryan Henderson responsible for the North Antrim area condemned the attacks and appealed for the public to help.
“I would like to assure people that police will be doing all we can to bring those responsible for these attacks before the courts and to try to ensure that no further damage is caused,” he said.
The DUP’S North Belfast MLA Nelson McCausland condemned an attack on Greencastle Orange Hall where a bin was pushed against the hall and set alight.
“The latest attack on Greencastle Orange Hall is a despicable act of intolerant bigotry and I condemn it without hesitation,” he said.
“This hall has been repeatedly targeted by sectarian criminals down through the years.
“This is the second attack in the space of a week. There are clearly some bigots who simply refuse to allow their Protestant neighbours to enjoy their culture and history in peace.”
Police said they are investigating the Greencastle arson attack.
Alliance Party MLA Trevor Lunn condemned the church attacks and said an Orange Hall in the Upper Dunmurry Lane, Belfast, was also vandalised.
“These thoughtless acts are simply contemptible,” he said. “We are trying to build a shared future based on respect for everyone and these types of incidents.
PA