An attempt was made last night to burn down an Orange hall in Co Armagh for the third time in the past year. A Catholic school in Co Derry was also set on fire late last night. Altnaveigh Orange Hall near Newry was set on fire shortly before 5 p.m. after intruders broke in through a back window, but a passer-by saw the flames and the fire brigade prevented extensive damage.
The Orange hall is situated alongside the main Belfast/ Dublin railway line in south Armagh and about a mile from Newry town. The Newry/Armagh UUP Assembly member, Mr Danny Kennedy, condemned the incident and described it as another cowardly attack on an isolated Protestant and loyalist community. In St Patrick's School in Garvagh, near Coleraine, Co Derry, was set on fire at 12.50 a.m. The fire brigade put out the fire which is not believed to have caused serious damage.