Orange halls damaged in attacks

The fire damage at Coagh Orange Hall

Two Orange Halls have been damaged in weekend attacks in County Tyrone, the Orange Order has said.

The front door of a hall in the Ballinderry/Bridge Road area of Coagh, near Cookstown, was forced open early on Sunday and a fire set inside.

Chainsaws were used to cut through the door of another hall in Mulnagore, outside Pomeroy.

The Grand Secretary of the Orange Order, Drew Nelson, appealed for anyone with information to contact the police.

"I would appeal this morning for two things," he said.

"First of all, that anyone who knows anything about this would come forward to give information to the police and secondly that there would be absolutely no retaliation."

Politicians from the area have condemned those responsible for the attacks.

SDLP Mid-Ulster Assembly member Patsy McGlone said the "reckless actions" of those responsible would be "widely condemned by all right thinking people".

UUP Mid-Ulster MLA Billy Armstrong said "the vast majority of people in Mid-Ulster and the rest of Northern Ireland have demonstrated that they wish to live in peace with their neighbours, whatever their creed or colour".

DUP MLA for the area, Ian McCrea, urged those "within the Protestant community to step up security around their halls and churches until those responsible for these attacks are brought to justice".