Orange Order hall attacks: 51 incidents bring ‘fear and intimidation’ to lodge

Democratic Unionist Party MLA Cheryl Brownlee said the rise in attacks on halls was worrying and unacceptable.

“If you cannot have your traditions and your culture respected without being petrol bombed, graffitied, attacked, what sort of society do we have?” she asked.

Brownlee, who is an Orangewoman, said there needed to be community confidence in the police but that at the moment that was “a struggle”.

“The PSNI need to be active on the ground,” she said.

“When communities are showing confidence in them and reporting [incidents], they need to be able to see the officers there, reacting and and investigating to the fullest extent.

“We need to see that brought through to justice.”

Brownlee added she was concerned over rhetoric about the Orange Order.

“Over the past few weeks I’ve seen images of Orangemen crossed out, I have seen some horrific things in Belfast saying ‘shoot your local Orangeman’,” she said.

“To see that is absolutely devastating.”