Police in Northern Ireland were yesterday probing another suspicious fire at an Orange Hall.
The building, on Glenavy Road in Lisburn, Co Antrim, belonging to the Protestant marching organisation suffered smoke damage and charring to the floor around 4.30am.
The latest incident came on the back of claims by the Orange Order on Saturday that its property is being targeted in an orchestrated campaign of sectarian arson attacks.
Ballyworkan Orange Hall, on the Tandragee Road in Portadown, Co Armagh, was also targeted this weekend. Its windows were smashed, petrol poured in and set alight.
An Orange Order spokesperson accused the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) and the Police Service of Northern Ireland of playing down the possibility of a deliberate campaign against the organisation's property.
The Portadown attack was, however, condemned by NIO security minister Paul Goggins and Ulster Unionists deputy leader Danny Kennedy. Police investigating the Lisburn incident yesterday appealed to the public to come forward with information, particularly about the activities of two men in a dark car seen acting suspiciously near the hall.
The latest attacks were condemned by Ulster Unionist leader Sir Reg Empey. "It is now clear that what has been happening, especially this year, constitutes a deliberate and orchestrated campaign, whose motivation is blatantly sectarian," said the Stormont Employment Minister.
"No other explanation is credible. Despite this evidence, the Loyal Orders face obstacles in obtaining compensation for these attacks.
"So far, the NIO has taken no action. I also called on the chief constable to take a more sympathetic approach to issuing chief constable's certificates, essential if compensation is forthcoming."
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