No windows and steel doors - life at NI's 'most-attacked Orange hall'
Summary
Members of the Rasharkin Chosen Few Orange lodge say repeated attacks on their hall have left them feeling intimidated and unable to hold some events safely at night. Police recorded 17 hate crimes against Orange and Apprentice Boys’ halls across Northern Ireland in the past year, while the PSNI says it has a plan to prevent further attacks in Rasharkin.Key Facts
- The Rasharkin lodge says its hall has been targeted in 51 incidents over 30 years.
- Members say attacks have included graffiti and attempted arson; the hall now has steel doors and no windows.
- Police recorded 17 hate crimes against Orange and Apprentice Boys’ halls in Northern Ireland in the past year, the second-highest total in five years.
- CCTV shared with BBC News NI showed masked figures painting “INLA” outside the hall on 12 July 2025, followed by paint being thrown at the building.
- The lodge says CCTV showed a PSNI patrol car driving over the freshly painted road graffiti without stopping.
- The PSNI said officers were in the area about 10 minutes before the reported damage and responded about seven minutes after the patrol car passed the hall.
- The PSNI said it examined footage from the July 2025 and June 2026 incidents but considered it unsuitable for a public appeal.
- Lodge members say safety concerns mean they hold charity events during the day rather than at night.
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