Police investigate sectarian graffiti attacks on Rasharkin GAC and Orange Hall

Graffiti sprayed outside a local GAA club in Rasharkin

Police are investigating two sectarian hate crimes after graffiti was sprayed on both a GAA club and an Orange Hall in Rasharkin within hours of each other, escalating tensions in the North Antrim village ahead of the marching season.

The incidents happened on Sunday evening, June 7, with criminal damage reported first at St Mary’s GAC on Townhill Road before a second attack later that night on Rasharkin Orange Hall on Main Street.

The PSNI has confirmed it is treating both incidents as sectarian hate crimes and believes the attacks may be linked.

Inspector Hamilton said officers received a report shortly before 11pm that graffiti had been sprayed on a building in the Main Street area.

He said:

“Just before 11pm, we received a report that graffiti had been sprayed on a building in the Main Street area of the town. A possible link between this and a similar report in the Townhill Road area of Rasharkin, earlier on Sunday 7th June, is being investigated.

“Both these reports are being treated as sectarian hate crimes and enquiries are ongoing.

“I am appealing to anyone who may have witnessed any suspicious activity in the area, or to anyone with information or footage that could assist with enquiries, to contact police on 101, quoting reference number 1564 of 07/06/26.”

Police said reports can also be submitted online at www.psni.police.uk/makeareport.

Information can also be passed anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or online via www.crimestoppers-uk.org.

GAA club condemns graffiti attack

St Mary’s Rasharkin GAC said it was “disappointing” to see the club targeted, particularly during a weekend when large numbers of young people had been taking part in activities at the club.

In a statement, the club said:

“St Mary’s Rasharkin GAC is aware of graffiti sprayed onto the club gates overnight.

“To be targeted in this manner is disappointing. Sectarian graffiti is wrong in any setting and should be condemned.

“Our club is proud to provide an inclusive environment for people of all backgrounds to enjoy Gaelic Games in the village.

“It is particularly disappointing that this incident comes during a weekend where hundreds of our young people have been busy enjoying our games.”

The club’s response focused on community impact and the effect the incident may have on young people and families involved in local sport.

Political reaction widens as tensions condemned across community

Graffiti sprayed on the local Orange Hall in Rasharkin

The attack on Rasharkin Orange Hall prompted strong condemnation from unionist political representatives, who described the graffiti as intimidation directed at the Protestant and unionist community in the village.

TUV councillor Jonathan McAuley said CCTV footage had captured individuals spraying graffiti on the building.

He said:

“I am disgusted that Rasharkin Orange Hall was attacked late this evening. The culprits were captured on CCTV spraying graffiti on the walls and laughing.

“For decades the minority Unionist community has been subjected to attacks of this nature. Once again, the Orange Order — as the visible face of Protestant culture and identity in the village — has been the focal point.”

North Antrim MP Jim Allister described the graffiti as “pro-IRA” and claimed it was intended to intimidate the wider unionist community.

He said:

“I am disgusted that pro-IRA graffiti has been scrawled on Rasharkin Orange Hall. This is a clear attempt to intimidate not just members of the Order but the wider Unionist community in the area.”

TUV MLA Timothy Gaston said the party would be raising concerns directly with police and seeking additional patrols in the area ahead of the marching season.

“We will be raising this matter with the police and stressing to them the need for additional patrols and other measures to prevent further incidents of this nature,” he said.

DUP MLA Paul Frew described the incidents as “sinister activity” designed to raise tensions and fear within the community, adding that local residents had repeatedly raised concerns about policing resources in the area.

Sinn Féin MLA Philip McGuigan also condemned the incidents and said sectarian attacks had no place in the community.

He said people in Rasharkin were “quite rightly very angry and annoyed that their GAA club was the target of sectarian graffiti.”

“The GAA club in Rasharkin is a shining example of what is good and positive in a community and the people responsible for these hate-filled sectarian attacks are the complete opposite.

“The people who carried out this attack are anti-Catholic, anti-Irish and anti-community but they should not be allowed to succeed in raising tensions as is their intention.

“And as such I also condemn the attack on the Orange Hall. Sectarianism is wrong no matter where its source and sectarian attacks like this need to be condemned by us all.

“Those responsible have nothing positive to offer the local community and these attacks have no place in our society and need to stop.”

Police enquiries into both incidents are continuing.