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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Police 'ineffective' over attacks | Police 'ineffective' over attacks |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| The grand secretary of the Orange Order has said the police have been ineffective in dealing with attacks on Orange halls. | |
| Arsonists targeted two more halls in Portadown and Tandragee on New Year's Day. | Arsonists targeted two more halls in Portadown and Tandragee on New Year's Day. |
| Drew Nelson also said he wants the nationalist community to hand over those responsible. | Drew Nelson also said he wants the nationalist community to hand over those responsible. |
| "The police seem unable to protect the halls, they seem unable to detect those responsible," said Mr Nelson. | "The police seem unable to protect the halls, they seem unable to detect those responsible," said Mr Nelson. |
| "The police have been so emasculated they seem to be no longer an effective force in Northern Ireland. | "The police have been so emasculated they seem to be no longer an effective force in Northern Ireland. |
| "What we want to see is the nationalist community handing over the people, giving information on the people who are carrying out these attacks." | "What we want to see is the nationalist community handing over the people, giving information on the people who are carrying out these attacks." |
| Response | Response |
| A spokeswoman for the PSNI said: "We are aware of the concerns of the Orange Order in relation to Orange halls. | A spokeswoman for the PSNI said: "We are aware of the concerns of the Orange Order in relation to Orange halls. |
| "The chief constable and members of the senior command have met with order representatives and on at least one recent occasion, a senior officer of the order was invited to attend a police operational planning in the south-east. | "The chief constable and members of the senior command have met with order representatives and on at least one recent occasion, a senior officer of the order was invited to attend a police operational planning in the south-east. |
| "Each incident reported to police is investigated robustly and every effort is made to get the evidence needed to catch those responsible and bring them before the courts." | "Each incident reported to police is investigated robustly and every effort is made to get the evidence needed to catch those responsible and bring them before the courts." |