A fire which destroyed an Orange Hall close to the Derry-Donegal border was started deliberately, Gardai have confirmed.
The blaze at Newtowncunningham Orange Hall was at 7.00am yesterday.
The hall, located on the village’s Main Street, had only been completely refurbished last year and was used up until last friday when a party had taken place in the building.
It is the second arson attack on the hall in four years.
Gardai have now appealed to locals who may have seen anything suspicious to contact them.
Sinn Féin TD Padraig Mac Lochlainn condemned those responsible.
Speaking after inspecting the damage at the hall with members of the local Orange and Protestant community, Deputy Mac Lochlainn said those responsible for the attack represented nobody but themselves.
He added: “Anybody with any information relating to this incident should bring it immediately to An Garda Síochana.
“I sincerely hope that those responsible will be brought to justice.
“I also want to convey the solidarity of the entire community in Donegal with the minority Protestant community at this time. I have no doubt that that community will unite together and rebuild the hall.”
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