Post by Wasp on Aug 12, 2010 9:17:55 GMT
An Orange Order hall in Co Tyrone has been destroyed in an overnight fire.
Thursday, 12 August 2010
Tags: police fire and rescue service Local News
Police are investigating the cause of the blaze at the two storey building in Pomeroy.
The emergency services were alerted shortly before 3.15am, but the fire had taken hold.
The fire service has now brought the blaze on the Donaghmore Road under control, but local station commander Michael Flanagan said there was major damage.
"The building was well alight and we had four crews," he said.
"We had a total of 16 men, two pumping appliances and two specialist appliances, one aerial appliance, to attack the blaze.
"The building was substantially damaged."
DUP MLA and Policing Board member Ian McCrea, who is to meet the Chief Constable on Thursday, believes the attack was arson
"This was a blatant sectarian attack. What we have witnessed in Pomeroy is a demonstration of intolerance and an attempt to remove Protestants from this community.
"These attempts have failed in the past and this will fail again."
The hall is used by two local Orange lodges and a Royal Black Perceptory, as well as a pipe band and a flute band. It was extensively damaged in an arson attack in November 2008.
A spokesman for the Grand Orange Lodge made an appeal to its members and supporrters "not to fall into the trap of allowing this to increase community tension."
"The only way to deal with this attack and continuing attacks on our halls is to work with the police in trying to catch the culprits."
Thursday, 12 August 2010
Tags: police fire and rescue service Local News
Police are investigating the cause of the blaze at the two storey building in Pomeroy.
The emergency services were alerted shortly before 3.15am, but the fire had taken hold.
The fire service has now brought the blaze on the Donaghmore Road under control, but local station commander Michael Flanagan said there was major damage.
"The building was well alight and we had four crews," he said.
"We had a total of 16 men, two pumping appliances and two specialist appliances, one aerial appliance, to attack the blaze.
"The building was substantially damaged."
DUP MLA and Policing Board member Ian McCrea, who is to meet the Chief Constable on Thursday, believes the attack was arson
"This was a blatant sectarian attack. What we have witnessed in Pomeroy is a demonstration of intolerance and an attempt to remove Protestants from this community.
"These attempts have failed in the past and this will fail again."
The hall is used by two local Orange lodges and a Royal Black Perceptory, as well as a pipe band and a flute band. It was extensively damaged in an arson attack in November 2008.
A spokesman for the Grand Orange Lodge made an appeal to its members and supporrters "not to fall into the trap of allowing this to increase community tension."
"The only way to deal with this attack and continuing attacks on our halls is to work with the police in trying to catch the culprits."