Orange hall destroyed in Fermanagh fire
An Orange hall destroyed in an overnight fire was targeted by arsonists who may have used diversionary tactics to keep the emergency services from the area, Orangemen have claimed.
The isolated building in Inver Road, near Rosslea in Co Fermanagh, was gutted in the blaze, which was only discovered at around 6am after it had burnt itself out.
Orange Order secretary Drew Nelson said he understood a phoney 999 call was made around the same time of the fire, reporting an incident in nearby Lisnaskea.
“This looks like a very well-organised attack on the hall,” he said. “We understand that the people responsible may even have used diversionary tactics to keep the emergency services from the area at the time.”
Mr Nelson, who will visit the hall at midday to inspect the damage, said the hall played an important role in the small Fermanagh community.
“This is a hall which was at the cutting edge of work we’re doing in the community in many different areas,” he said.
“Its facilities were used by different organisations and it played an important part in local life. This is an attack on Protestant and Orange culture in the area and is a very worrying development.”
He appealed for witnesses to contact the police.
A police spokesman said officers were still working to establish the circumstances surrounding the fire.
