A NORTH Belfast MLA has met police commanders in the area to discuss the recent attacks on a landmark Orange Hall.
The building in Clifton Street has been targeted with paint bombs several times over the summer months and William Humphrey has said they are “designed to cause gross insult”.
The DUP MLA, along with his party colleague Councillor Brian Kingston and members of the hall’s management, met Chief Superintendent George Clarke, and expressed his concern at the scale of the problem.
Speaking after the meeting, Mr Humphrey said: “Clifton Street Orange Hall has been targeted in an appalling series of attacks this summer. On the weekend of the recent Covenant Centenary parade more than six paint bombs were thrown at the front of the hall in the early hours of Monday October 1. Earlier in the summer there were paint bomb attacks against the hall in July and August.
“On each occasion these have taken place within days of major parades. There can be no doubt that these attacks are designed to cause gross insult and to increase tension. The PSNI said they are aware of this pattern and undertook to continue paying increased attention to the safety of the Hall in the days around parades.”
Mr Humphrey said the delegation was disappointed to hear that images of the vandals were not captured on nearby CCTV cameras and said they requested the cameras spend more time pointed at the hall.
“The sandstone construction of this grade one listed building means that the paint seeps into the brickwork and damage is caused every time it has to be removed.
“Members of the Hall Management Committee also told how the hall was attacked by supporters of a dissident republican parade on Clifton Street in September with five windows broken. Video footage of this attack is available and we will be pursuing this matter further with the police. There have also been many incidents of cars in the hall car park being damaged in sectarian attacks.
“We also raised the issue of the Reformation Sunday church parade this Sunday. This annual church parade has always passed off barely unnoticed. However, the campaign of protests against parades from the hall processing down Clifton Street/Donegall Street into town means that it will require a much increased police operation.
“We wish to see a return to normality as quickly as possible.”