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Orange hall in Convoy, County Donegal, destroyed in fire | Orange hall in Convoy, County Donegal, destroyed in fire |
(about 2 hours later) | |
An Orange hall in a County Donegal village has been destroyed in a fire, and an attempt was made to burn down a Protestant church. | |
The fire at the hall in Convoy, near Lifford, started around 04:00 BST on Friday. | 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' | |
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. | 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. | "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." | "There is a small Protestant minority community in Donegal and they are beginning to feel a bit besieged." |
Sinn Féin councillor Liam Doherty, who lives nearby, said the fire had spread rapidly through the building. | Sinn Féin councillor Liam Doherty, who lives nearby, said the fire had spread rapidly through the building. |
"It's hard to speculate, but it's looking like it was done maliciously," he said. | "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." | "It's devastating for the whole community - it's not just an Orange hall, it was used by people from all walks of life." |