Members of the Rasharkin Chosen Few Orange lodge in Northern Ireland report experiencing fear and intimidation due to decades of sectarian attacks on their hall, which they believe to be the most targeted in the region. Over the past 30 years, the lodge has documented 51 incidents, ranging from graffiti and vandalism to attempted arson.
These repeated attacks have forced the hall to be retrofitted with steel doors and no windows, and members are hesitant to park their cars outside for fear of them being targeted. Leigh Gerrow, a lodge member, described the situation as "not a normal way to be living," and stated that the persistent attacks are an "attempt to incite, intimidate, threaten and at times provoke a reaction."
"It's not just an attack on an Orange hall, it's an attack on what that hall represents and what it stands for and the community that it represents," Gerrow said. "It sends a very clear message from the perpetrators to the members of my community: 'You are not wanted here.'"
The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) recorded 17 hate crimes against Orange and Apprentice Boys' halls across Northern Ireland in the past year, an increase from previous years and the second highest total in five years.
However, Rasharkin Orangemen express a lack of confidence in the police response, citing an incident where a patrol car was seen driving over freshly painted graffiti without stopping. CCTV footage from July 12, 2025, showed masked figures painting "INLA" on the road outside the hall, moments before a PSNI vehicle passed over the markings. Vandals then threw paint at the hall. Another incident in June 2026 captured a masked figure spraying sectarian slogans.
Gerrow stated that this footage was provided to the police, but they declined to release it publicly. "Sadly and disappointedly, I'd say the police have handled this really badly," he said. The PSNI countered that officers responded to the report of criminal damage seven minutes after the patrol vehicle was captured on CCTV, and no one was present when patrols arrived. They also deemed the CCTV footage unsuitable for a public appeal.
Rodney Cubitt, the lodge's worshipful master, noted that the attacks impact the lodge's ability to conduct charity fundraising, forcing them to hold events during daylight hours for safety reasons. "We would like to run some events here at night but we feel it's more safe to have them during the day," he said. He emphasized the importance of maintaining a presence in the village, given the lodge's history dating back to 1796.
Democratic Unionist Party MLA Cheryl Brownlee condemned the rise in attacks, calling it "unacceptable" and questioning the kind of society that allows such actions. She expressed concern over anti-Orange Order rhetoric and imagery circulating in Belfast, including messages urging violence against Orangemen.
PSNI District Commander Supt Yvonne McManus acknowledged the impact of the incidents and stated that the force has adopted a "different policing approach" after reviewing the pattern of offenses. She stressed the need for collaboration, engagement, and mutual understanding to counter divisive narratives, noting that such attacks are often carried out by a "very small minority."