Orange hall in Convoy, County Donegal, destroyed in fire
The Orange hall in Convoy was destroyed in the fire
An Orange hall in a County Donegal village has been destroyed in a fire, and an attempt made to burn down a Protestant church.
The fire at the hall in Convoy, near Lifford, started around 04:00 BST on Friday.Orange Order grand secretary Drew Nelson said it was similar to an attack on a hall nearby at Newtowncunningham.
Attempts were made to set fire to Convoy Presbyterian Church's pulpit and a room at the back of the building.
'Besieged'
Attempts were made to burn down Convoy Presbyterian Church
He was alerted by a member of the congregation at about 09:30 BST on Friday.
"We saw that the back door had been kicked in and taken off its hinges," he said.
"A Bible had been burnt in the back room and then as we opened the door to go into the main church somebody had tried to set fire to the pulpit and had broken a couple of the pulpit light stands.
"Fortunately enough, the papers that were set alight burnt out and the rest didn't catch fire although there's quite a smell of smoke throughout the church.
Alan Laird of Convoy Orange Order said people had been in tears following the fire
The minister said the church worked well with all sides of the community and said all sides had condemned what had happened.
Local Catholic priest Fr Philip Kemmy said he was "shocked" and "saddened" by the attacks.
"I feel heartbroken for Rev Colin, for his church and the hall here as well because it is a desecration of what people hold very dear," he said.
Catholic priest Fr Philip Kemmy said what had happened was a desecration of what people held "very dear"
Mr Nelson said the Orange hall was built in the 1930s and was used by the local community.
He said it appeared that someone had broken into the building and set it alight.
"We are very disturbed at what seems to be an emerging pattern," he said.
"There is a small Protestant minority community in Donegal and they are beginning to feel a bit besieged."
The fire started at about 04:00 BST on Friday
"It's hard to speculate, but it's looking like it was done maliciously," he said.
"It's devastating for the whole community - it's not just an Orange hall, it was used by people from all walks of life."
Last month, dissident republicans claimed responsibility for a device that partially exploded outside Carnagh Orange hall, near Keady, County Armagh.
"The damage is not that great, thankfully."
The minister said the church worked well with all sides of the community and said all sides had condemned what had happened.
Local Catholic priest Fr Philip Kemmy said he was "shocked" and "saddened" by the attacks.
"I feel heartbroken for Rev Colin, for his church and the hall here as well because it is a desecration of what people hold very dear," he said.
Catholic priest Fr Philip Kemmy said what had happened was a desecration of what people held "very dear"
Mr Nelson said the Orange hall was built in the 1930s and was used by the local community.
He said it appeared that someone had broken into the building and set it alight.
"We are very disturbed at what seems to be an emerging pattern," he said.
"There is a small Protestant minority community in Donegal and they are beginning to feel a bit besieged."
The fire started at about 04:00 BST on Friday
"It's hard to speculate, but it's looking like it was done maliciously," he said.
"It's devastating for the whole community - it's not just an Orange hall, it was used by people from all walks of life."
Last month, dissident republicans claimed responsibility for a device that partially exploded outside Carnagh Orange hall, near Keady, County Armagh.
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