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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Orange hall in Convoy, County Donegal, destroyed in fire | Orange hall in Convoy, County Donegal, destroyed in fire |
| (35 minutes 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. | 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. | 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. | Attempts were made to set fire to Convoy Presbyterian Church's pulpit and a room at the back of the building. |
| 'Besieged' | 'Besieged' |
| Mr Nelson said the Orange hall was built in the 1930s and was used by the local community. | 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." |
| Last month, dissident republicans claimed responsibility for a device that partially exploded outside Carnagh Orange hall, near Keady, County Armagh. |