Carrickawilkan Orange Hall near Darkley was completely burned as a result of a fire which started in the early hours of this morning.
Minister Ritchie said, “I have made some enquiries and although the police have not yet confirmed it formally, everything points to the fire being started deliberately. Such wanton destruction of a hall that was used by members of a small Orange Lodge is a disgraceful act that must be rejected by all right-thinking people. Apart from depriving people of a valuable community facility this fire will do nothing to help improve community relations. We have been divided in Northern Ireland for decades but we have surely finally come to realise that the only way forward is to build our shared future. Destruction of this kind is not just inflicting damage on isolated minorities - it is an affront to us all."
The Minister added: "We now have a stable political settlement but we have yet to properly tackle the hatred and sectarianism that plagues our communities and undermines our social development. A Shared Future is at the heart of all my work as Social Development Minister and I recognize that building it will be a lengthy and challenging task for all concerned. I call on members of the community in Darkley to come together and to help in the rebuilding of this community facility. I also urge anyone with any information about the incident to provide all possible assistance to the police."
