51 Attacks on Rasharkin Orange Hall in Three Decades Prompt Police Strategy Change
Local members say fear has forced daytime-only events, while new police data shows a rise in hate crimes against protestant halls across Northern Ireland.
By Sakura Ellis ·
Rasharkin Chosen Few Orange lodge has recorded 51 attacks on its building over the past 30 years. The group describes the structure as the most-attacked Orange hall in Northern Ireland. Members say the repeated violence has created a climate of fear that limits their ability to celebrate their heritage.
Police data indicates that 17 hate crimes were committed against Orange and Apprentice Boys' halls in Northern Ireland during the previous year. This figure marks an increase from the prior two years and represents the second highest count in the last five years.
Leigh Gerrow, a member of the lodge, stated that the damage has ranged from graffiti to attempted arson. The hall now features steel doors and no windows. Members often avoid parking outside the building to reduce the risk of their vehicles being targeted. Gerrow noted that the current living conditions feel abnormal for the community.
CCTV footage from 12 July 2025 shows masked individuals painting the initials INLA on the road outside the hall. At approximately 01:15, the figures disappear from view. A Police Service of Northern Ireland patrol car then drives over the fresh paint without stopping. Minutes later, vandals threw paint at the hall. The lodge shared this footage with broadcasters to illustrate their frustration with the police response.
Another clip from June 2026 captures a masked figure spraying sectarian slogans on the building. Rodney Cubitt, the lodge's worshipful master, said these incidents have disrupted their charity fundraising. Events that were once held at night are now conducted during the day to minimize the risk of attack. Cubitt explained that the difficulty in promoting the lodge has made it harder to recruit new members.
The PSNI stated that officers were patrolling the Rasharkin area about 10 minutes before the reported damage in July 2025. A spokesperson said officers from Kilrea responded to the call at 01:22, roughly seven minutes after the patrol car passed the site. The service determined that the CCTV footage from both 2025 and 2026 incidents was unsuitable for a public appeal.
Supt Yvonne McManus, the PSNI district commander, acknowledged the serious impact of the incidents on lodge members. She said the force adopted a different policing approach after reviewing the wider pattern of offences this year. McManus emphasized that sectarian incidents often damage community relationships due to the actions of a small minority.
DUP MLA Cheryl Brownlee described the rise in attacks as worrying and unacceptable. She questioned how society functions if traditions are not respected without the threat of violence. Brownlee called for the PSNI to be more visible and active on the ground to build community confidence in the police force.
