Vandals smashed 17 windows in an orange hall and 10 others at a church hall, in Ballyroney near Rathfriland, County Down on Saturday night.

A Free Presbyterian Church in nearby Moneyslane was also damaged.

Rev Noel Ward: "Attacks will not have lasting affect on community"

Local minister, the Reverend Noel Ward, said the attacks would not succeed in increasing tensions in the area.

"It is fairly obvious that there was an attempt to try to raise community tensions," he said.

"I don't think they'll be successful in our community.

"I think there'll obviously be some distress and upset and I'm sure some anger also, but I don't think that there'll be any deep or lasting affect from what has actually been done."

Good relations

Ulster Unionist Councillor John Ingram believes those responsible were trying to damage good community relations in the area.

Councillor John Ingram has condemned the attacks

"I think that it's definitely people trying to rise tensions in the area and its totally sectarian," he said.

"I totally condemn the like of this happening in any area, especially in Ballyroney, where we are law-abiding people and when there never has been this in the area before."

Chairman of Banbridge District Council, Wilfred McFadden said he condemned attacks on both churches and orange halls.