Over the last three years, 186 offences against Orange halls have been reported to the PSNI — an average of more than one a week.

In this period, three cases have been referred to the Public Prosecution Service and proceedings have been taken against four persons, all of whom have been convicted for offences relating to criminal damage.

William Humphrey uncovered the figures through an assembly question.
“If we were talking about any other minority group within our society, this failure would be considered scandalous,” the North Belfast MLA said.

In the year 2007/08, some 59 offences against Orange halls were reported to police, four were cleared by the justice system; in 2008/09, 59 offences against Orange halls were reported to police and two were cleared; in 2009/10, 68 offences on Orange halls were reported to police but no prosecutions were brought.

Mr Humphrey said the low numbers represents “a litany of failure on the part of the justice system”.

He has also called on the justice minister David Ford to conduct an urgent review into the low clearance rates.

“Orange halls are valued as centres of activity across the country and many of them are used by people from both communities.

“People of goodwill on all sides of the community are working to build a shared future that is characterised by tolerance and cultural inclusion.

“Many Orange halls are working at a local level to contribute to this agenda and it is critically important that they are left in peace to get on with this work.

“Sectarian attacks on the institutions of any community, whether they are Orange halls, churches, schools or GAA clubs, eat away at the fabric of our society.”

Orange grand secretary Drew Nelson said: “We believe that this three per cent clearance rate could be the lowest for any category of offence in Northern Ireland and we repeat our call to the PSNI to devote more resources to investigations into these attacks.

“The increasing number of attacks may be the result of the demonisation of the Orange Order by certain political and community leaders.”

A spokesman for the justice department said: “The department recognises that attacks on, for instance, Orange halls and GAA clubs, are a matter of understandable concern in the community.

“We are aware that the police service are taking steps to prevent and detect these appalling crimes, but as the figures demonstrate this is a difficult task.

“It needs to be recognised that these premises are often in relatively isolated areas.